Mungyeong: The Philippine soft tennis team celebrates a historic achievement by winning the gold medal in the mixed team event at the 9th Asian Soft Tennis Championship held in Mungyeong, South Korea. This victory marks a significant milestone for the team, as it is their first gold medal in an Asian-level tournament.
According to Philippines News Agency, Joseph Arcilla and Samuel Nuguit excelled in the men’s doubles, while Bien Zoleta and Princess Catindig triumphed in the women’s doubles. Their victories secured a best-of-three tie against China, with a 2-0 win at the Mungyeong International Soft Tennis Stadium. The mixed doubles team, comprised of Patrick Mendoza and Christy Sa±osa, did not compete in the final match.
The Philippines demonstrated dominance throughout the tournament, defeating Cambodia and India with identical 2-0 scores in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. Bien Zoleta expressed immense pride in the team’s accomplishment, highlighting its significance as the first gold medal win for the country in an Asian-level tournament. Zoleta recalled the last time the Philippines reached the finals was in 2012, securing a silver medal.
Zoleta emphasized the importance of this victory as it ensures the women’s team’s qualification for the 2026 Asian Games. The men’s team had already qualified due to their bronze medal performance at the World Championship last year. Winning a medal at the Asian Championship allows the Philippines to send entries for both men’s and women’s categories in the upcoming Asian Games.
Prior to the championship, the national team underwent rigorous training from August 24 to September 13 in Sunchang. Head coach Michael John Enriquez, along with assistant coaches Josephine Paguyo, Wenifredo De Leon Jr., and Mark Anthony Alcoseba, accompanied the team.
Joseph Arcilla, who also won a gold medal at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, expressed satisfaction with the team’s hard-earned victory. The team’s recent performance in Europe, where they secured eight medals at the Poland Cup, further underscores their growing prowess in the sport.
Zoleta, who previously won a bronze medal at the World Soft Tennis Championships in 2015, joins an elite group of Filipino athletes who have achieved international recognition in soft tennis, following in the footsteps of Paguyo and Arcilla.
