Asiad: Filipinas bow to Vietnam, cop silver in sepak takraw doubles

(UPDATED) The Philippine women’s doubles team will bring home a silver medal from the sepak takraw competition of the 2026 Asian Games.

This, after the squad of Abegail Sinogbuhan, Jean Marie Sucalit and substitute Nelly Jay Saron absorbed an 8-15, 4-15 loss to Vietnam in the final on Tuesday at the Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan.

The team was within striking distance, 6-10, in the opener but Vietnam proved stronger down the stretch, reeling off three straight points from a 12-8 count to take the win.

They then zoomed to a 7-1 lead in the second set and the Philippines could not play catch up. 

Despite missing out on the gold, the Philippine trio still made history by delivering the country’s best-ever finish in sepak takraw at the Asian Games.

Their run to the final was highlighted by a 2-1 record in Group B, where the Philippines defeated host Japan and India before losing to South Korea. The team then secured its historic place in the final after sweeping Laos, 15-12, 15-10, in the semifinals.

“Mixed emotions po kasi hindi talaga namin ine-expect na makaka-abot kami sa finals. Talagang hinilinh nalang namin kay Lord na sana this Asian Games makakuha kami ng medalya kahit any color,” said Sinogbuhan, the team’s captain.

“Pero natapos po itong doubles event namin, binigay sa amin ni Lord itong silver medal. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam,”‘ she added.

This was the Philippines’ second medal in sepak takraw in the Asiad, with the men’s regu squad taking bronze.

“Nothing but great pride and honor. All their hard work, not just months but years leading to this. We needed this break for a long time,” said Sepak Takraw Pilipinas president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero.