John Cabang Tolentino finally stood on the Asian Games podium.
The Filipino Olympian claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Sunday, producing a season-best 13.48 seconds at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
China’s Chen Yuanjiang took the gold in 13.15 seconds, while Japan’s Rachid Muratake settled for silver after clocking 13.29 seconds.
For Tolentino, the medal capped a long-awaited breakthrough on the continental stage after finishing fourth at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.
It also ended a lengthy wait for Philippine athletics.
Tolentino became the country’s first male hurdler to win an Asian Games medal since 1954 and delivered the Philippines’ first medal in the hurdles since Elma Muros’ bronze in 1990.
“I’m very happy. It was just a lot of self-pressure, and I just did it,” said Tolentino after securing the bronze.
(C) POC Media Team
The podium finish adds another major achievement to what has been a strong run for the Filipino hurdler.
In December 2025, Tolentino won the 110m hurdles at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, while setting a new SEA Games record of 13.66 seconds. His mark erased the previous record of 13.69 seconds set by Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet in 2015.
But the Asian Games medal carried a different weight for Tolentino, who had been determined to make the podium after coming agonizingly close in Hangzhou.
“I came here… to any competition, always to win,” he said.
The road to Nagoya was not without setbacks, but Tolentino said his determination to reach the podium never wavered. “Even in the hard times, I kept pushing… I was always dreaming about this,” he added.
He credited his coach, family, girlfriend, and the Filipino people for helping him reach the milestone.
Now, with an Asian Games medal added to his résumé, Cabang Tolentino has already set his sights on an even bigger target.
“I’m gonna go for LA Olympics,” he said.
