Jeus Yape takes bronze, Juliana Candelaria wins silver in Asiad taekwondo

Filipino taekwondo jins Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape and Juliana Mykhail Candelaria secured bronze and silver medals, respectively, in the individual poomsae events at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Candelaria, 18, finished second in the women's individual poomsae after posting an average score of 9.1300. She scored 9.200 in her first routine and 9.060 in her second.

South Korea's Jung Ha-eun won the gold with 9.3100, while Thailand's Thitaree Kaewolanwasu and Japan's Yuiko Niwa shared the bronze medals.

The silver marked Candelaria's first medal in her Asian Games debut.

"Super thankful for the moment. Super happy with my results," Candelaria told POC Media. “Ang mati-take ko [na lesson] here is live in the moment, kasi what I did in this competition is to enjoy and just be grateful for everything."

Meanwhile, Yape earned bronze in the 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.

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South Korea's Yun Kyusung claimed the gold, while Thailand's Navin Pinthasute took silver.

The 22-year-old Yape is a longtime poomsae competitor from Kananga, Leyte. He comes from a taekwondo family and began competing at a young age, later representing the Philippines in international poomsae events, including the 2024 World Poomsae Championships.

Meanwhile, Candelaria has competed internationally in poomsae since at least 2023. She won bronze in the junior individual event at the 2025 Asian Taekwondo Championships and another bronze in the over-17 freestyle individual event at the 2026 edition.

As of writing, the Philippines has three golds, five silvers, and 13 bronzes for a total of 21 medals at the 2026 Asian Games.

The games will run until Oct. 4. Want to tune in? Here's how to watch the Asian Games 2026 in the Philippines.