Adriano nets a second karate bronze for the Philippines in Asiad

c/o POC/PSC Media

Marie June Adriano  delivered the Philippines’ second karate medal at the 20th Asian Games after capturing bronze in the women’s kumite -50kg division on Wednesday.

Adriano, 22, defeated Chinese Taipei’s Ya-chi Chung, 10-3, in the bronze medal match to secure her first Asian Games medal.

The Filipino karateka, a first-timer in the Asian Games, had earlier beaten Cambodia’s Srey Phea Chonn, 4-3, and South Korea’s Yang Yewon, 4-0, before falling narrowly to Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting, 5-4, in the semifinals.

The bronze-medal victory was particularly significant for Adriano, who was competing internationally at the Asian Games for the first time.

She also had added motivation against Chung, having lost to the same opponent in their previous two meetings. Adriano said she reviewed their past encounters and made the necessary adjustments before the deciding bout.

“Pangatlong beses na po naming nagharap,” said Adriano, recalling their previous meetings.

Adriano, a Human Kinetics student at PUP and a native of Llanera in Nueva Ecija, credited her training, technique and her coach’s confidence for helping her stay composed during the bronze-medal match.

“Mas nagtiwala po ako sa technique ko, sa kung ano yung baon ko, kung ano yung trinain ko para sa competition na ito,” she said.

She also recalled her coach’s reminder to stay in the middle and wait for the right opportunity to attack.

“Sa atin na ito, sa amin na ito. Kailangan ko lang mag-work,” Adriano said.

The medal capped a breakthrough run for the young karateka, who said she was grateful for the opportunity to represent the Philippines.

“Super laking bagay niya para sa akin. As a first-timer, talagang yung pressure, nandoon lahat,” Adriano said. “Sobrang happy po ako na isa ako sa napili at nakapagbigay ako ng medalya para sa Pilipinas.”
Adriano’s bronze gave the Philippines its second karate medal of the Games and its fifth medal overall.

A day earlier, the Philippine women’s kata team of Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas and Ysabielle Arrogante also secured a bronze medal.

Karate secures a bronze for the Philippines in Asiad

c/o POC/PSC Media

Philippines delivered another historic milestone at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games after the Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Veguillas and Ysabelle Arrogante clinched the women’s team kata bronze medal of karate on Tuesday at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games at the Toyohashi Gymnasium here.

The quartet beat Southeast Asian rival Thailand’s Ramitar Terananon, Monsicha Sakulrattanatara and Phatcharin Plangplai, 4-1, for the Philippines’ first-ever medal in team kata event in the Asian Games.

The Filipinas set the tone early with a flawless 5-0 sweep of Cambodia’s Sreynuch Puthea, Oun Sreyda and That Chhenghorng, but went down to a 0-5 loss to powerhouse Iran in the semifinals.

“Wala na kami inisip kung sino kalaban,” Arrogante said. “Basta we claim sa amin ang bronze.”

The emotional triumph was the culmination of years of quiet sacrifice.

“It has been a long journey. Dami hirap ng mga teammates,” an emotional Torres said. “Marami losses over the years, pero perform lang, laban lang hanggang dulo.”

Adding fuel to their fire was the news they received just a day prior that the Philippines officially qualified for the Karate World Cup this November in Hangzhou.

"Na-inspire kami, kaya itutuloy pa namin ito, yung magandang resulta,” Arrogante said.

Head Coach Sonny Montalvo commended his athletes for their immense dedication, highlighting how the girls temporarily left their families and put their university studies on hold just to train.

The trio also credited their success to the unwavering support of their coaches and officials, specifically former Karate Pilipinas president the late Pocholo Veguillas, father of current president Richard Lim, also Team Philippines chef de mission in these games.

Karate has contributed consecutive bronze medals in the Asian Games starting with Junna Tsukii in Jakarta 2018 and Sakura Alforte in Hangzhou 2023.

Alforte, an individual kata specialist, missed this year's Asiad due to a new ruling requiring all squad members to compete in the team event.

“Big boost sa karate. Nakita natin magaling ang Pilipino, tiwala lang,” he said. "Maka-inspire din ito sa delegation dito. Dami pa lalaban.”

Kata trio secure bronze in Asiad

c/o POC/PSC Media Team

Team Philippines added another medal on Day 3 of the 2026 Asian Games as the women’s kata team defeated Thailand, 4-1, in the bronze medal match Tuesday in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante, and Rebecca Cyril Torres delivered a composed performance to secure the bronze, giving the Philippines its third medal of the continental showpiece.
The Philippine side posted scores of 7.8, 7.7, 7.9, 8.7, and 8.1, compared to Thailand’s 7.6, 7.5, 7.7, 8.5, and 8.3, with the Philippines taking four of the five judges’ decisions.

The bronze capped a strong run for the Filipina trio, who navigated the knockout stages with precision and consistency to put themselves on the Asian Games podium.

For Veguillas, teamwork was at the heart of their medal finish.

“I feel like it was our teamwork. I feel like we were always showing up for each other. Madalas kami nag-training kahit anong oras, kahit ilang oras. So, I feel like we were able to show up for each other, motivate each other.”

Arrogante, meanwhile, said they blocked out the identity of their opponents and focused solely on executing their routine.

“Basta ibibigay talaga namin yung best namin kanina. Wala na po kaming inisip kung sino man ’yan. Basta kami ’to, amin ’to, amin yung bronze.”

Karate Pilipinas president and Chef De Mission Richard Lim pointed to the sacrifices behind the scenes as a major reason for their podium finish, noting the immense commitment the athletes made to their preparation.

“I would say, though, yung sacrifice nila. I mean, the time that they dedicated to the training. Some of them quit school. Not to quit, but stopped temporarily just to concentrate for the Asian Games. Away from the family. Wala nang family time dahil more on the demand of the training.”

The bronze gives the Philippine women’s kata team another major milestone as Day 3 of the Asian Games continues, with Team Philippines adding another medal to its growing haul.

World Karate body reveals new motto at Philippine leg of Karate One Youth League

c/o World Karate Federation

WITH the martial art’s steady growth globally, the World Karate Federation has come up with the motto “The World is Our Dojo,” which will be unveiled at  the Karate One Youth League presented by the Philippine Sports Commission kicking off on May 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“The WKF chose the motto ‘The World is Our Dojo’ because karate’s popularity has grown immensely over the years. The federation has now 200 members worldwide, and counting,” said Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation, Inc. president Richard Lim.

“Virtually anywhere in the planet, there is a karate gym so the WKF can rightfully say that ‘The World is Our Dojo,” Lim said.  

“The fact we have 59 competing countries and close to 1,000 karatekas worldwide coming over underscores the deep influence of these native Japanese discipline in becoming a universal combat sport,” added the karate chief of the meet backed by the SM Group of Companies and the Philippine Olympic Committee. 

He disclosed that early bird was the arrival of a seven-member Malaysian junior squad last Wednesday and is currently training and sparring with its local counterparts at the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) gym in Mandaluyong.

“These Malaysian karatekas  are among the best they have and shows how our Southeast Asian neighbor is keen on doing well in the competition,” said Lim of the campaigners in the meet also sponsored by Lanson’s Place, Milo and Citadines Bay Hotel Manila.

The bulk of the Malaysian delegation will be arriving tomorrow together with the other overseas contingents, led off by the huge 78-member Australian squad, followed by Saudi Arabia’s 40, and 39 from New Zealand.

Participants in the  Karate One Youth League presented by the PSC will be feted to a welcome dinner on Wednesday by the Department of Tourism before action goes full swing the next day at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

A fiesta-like atmosphere will highlight the second day of hostilities with the opening ceremony in the afternoon featuring drum beaters, cultural dancers, a laser show and parade of flags in the youth karate showcase also supported by Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Pia Cayetano. 

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, WKF president Antonio Espinos, Milo senior vice president Veronica Cruz and Carlo Sampan, Milo Philippines assistant vice president and Head for Sports, will be  among those gracing the festive occasion.

There will be 34 categories in both kumite (sparring) and kata (forms) to be contested in the youth karate festival  from Under-14, 12 to 13 years old,  in the Cadets 14 to 15 years old and Junior 16 to 17 years old in both boys and girls divisions.