Double medalist Jeus Yape to serve as flag bearer for 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony
Double medalist Jeus Yape will serve as Team Philippines' flag bearer at the 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony, capping off a successful campaign.
In an announcement by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Yape will bear the flag during the parade of athletes, scheduled for 5 p.m. (Manila time) at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 4.
“He’s deserving for that honor,” POC President Abraham Tolentino said of the 22-year-old taekwondo practitioner.
"It will be a recognition not only for Jeus, but also for taekwondo, which finally won its first Asian Games gold medal since 1994, when the sport became a medal event in the Game," he added.
Yape had achieved a 2-0 sweep against Vietnam's Chau Ngoc Tuyet Sang in mixed individual virtual taekwondo on Oct. 2. He started strong and drained Chau's entire health bar in the first round, securing a 500-0 victory in remaining HP.
The final tally of total kicks was at 21-7; head kicks at 5-3; and blocks 5-3, all in favor of Yape. This earned him the Philippines' fourth gold medal at the Asian Games.
He also picked up bronze in Men’s Individual Poomsae after recording an average score of 9.0900. He scored 9.100 in his first routine and 9.080 in his second.
Joining Yape in the Closing Ceremony parade are fellow Asian Games silver medalists Juliana Mykhail Candelaria (Taekwondo), Tachiana Keizha Mangin (Taekwondo), Kurt Bryan Barbosa (Taekwondo), and Carlo Paalam (Boxing).
The Philippine medal tally for the 20th Asian Games stands at 28, with 16 bronze medals, eight silvers, and four golds.
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