Typhoon put people off Asian Games opening ceremony, official says
NAGOYA, Japan — Warnings of a typhoon partly explained why the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya took place in front of thousands of empty seats, organisers said Sunday. Saturday's gala at the 30,000-capacity stadium officially launched the continent's premier sporting event, with Japan's emperor and empress in attendance. Fireworks brought the show to a rousing conclusion, but while parts of the arena were full, others were noticeably devoid of people. Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said they had to keep one block empty because of the Games flame. "This is one part," he told reporters, adding that more than 70 percent of tickets were sold. That contrasted with an announcement at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium that said the ceremony was sold out. "But maybe if you remember, it was a typhoon warning coming to Nagoya and at the last minute the typhoon shifted," Al-Musallam added. "So the same question I've been asked, what happens if the typhoon is coming? That could affect the situation." There was no rain during the ceremony and the storm, having days earlier shaped as a potential threat to the Games, made a greater impact in the Tokyo region. There was heavy rain there on Sunday, where some Games events are being hosted...
Read full article
Kayla Sanchez back where she last won Olympic medal
READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 Kayla Sanchez described her return to Japan as a full-circle moment as she hopes to have a successful campaign representing the Philippines in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. “Different flag, same big dreams,” Sanchez wrote on her Instagram account. Her second Asiad stint will
WNBA: Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell torches scoring record
TORONTO—Kelsey Mitchell walked into a postgame celebration without realizing she was the guest of honor. Mitchell scored 33 points to set a WNBA season scoring record Friday night in a 103-85 victory over the Toronto Tempo. READ: WNBA: Caitlin Clark, Mitchell keep Fever on record-chasing pace With a three-pointer in the third quarter, Mitchell eclipsed
UAAP: Fresh recruits fuel Maroons’ second straight victory
READ: UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament – first round University of the Philippines didn’t get to showcase its new recruits when it opened its UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball campaign with a victory. Veejay Pre and James Payosing made sure they’d be seen this time. Pre, the transferee from Far Eastern U and Payosing,
IOC chief Coventry gives thumbs-up to Asian Games accommodation despite criticism
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry threw her weight behind the beleaguered Asian Games organizers on Sunday, saying she was impressed with the athletes' accommodation in Nagoya despite criticism from some competitors.
Asian Games: PH women's swimming team enters 4x100m freestyle relay final
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women's swimming team advanced to the 20th Asian Games 4x100m freestyle relay final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Japan on Sunday. Xiandi Chua, Teia Salvino, Heather White, and 2-time Olympian Kayla Sanchez combined for a total time of 3:45.73 to finish fifth in the heats, where the top eight entered the medal round. The final is set later at 5:33 p.m. China topped the heats with 3:37.70, Japan placed second with 3:41.32 and South Korea finished third with 3:45.36, just 0.37 seconds ahead of the Philippine team. Hong Kong placed fourth in the heats with 3:45.39.
PH takes first 20th Asian Games medal with women's soft tennis bronze
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines took its first 20th Asian Games medal after the national women's soft tennis team claimed a bronze medal at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center Sunday. The Filipino netters suffered an 0-2 loss to the Japanese but claimed the bronze anyway as semifinalists. Bien Zoleta, Princess Catinding, Christy Sanosa, Hilary Paas, and Shyryn Salazar thus gave the Philippines its first-ever soft tennis Asian Games medal since the sport made it debut at the 1994 edition of the meet in Hiroshima. Zoleta and Catindig fell to Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae, 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 4-0, 4-1, and Sanosa yielded to Ayaka Iwakura, 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 4-2, 4-0. The Philippine team finished in top two of Group B for the semifinal entry and that guaranteed bronze medal finish. The Philippines defeated Mongolia, 3-0, and Thailand, 2-1, before taking a 0-3 loss to Taiwan in the preliminaries.
Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games: Medal Tally
2026 Asian Games medal tally: Track the Philippines" medals, results, and latest standings as Team Philippines competes in Japan.
Alex Eala's Singapore Open campaign to be streamed in select PH cinemas
Alex Eala is coming to the big screen!
Eala chosen tennis poster athlete during Asiad opening ceremony sports presentations
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala starred as the tennis poster athlete during the Asian Games opening ceremony digital sports presentations at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Japan Saturday evening. Ranked No. 18 in the WTA, Eala was the only Filipino athlete featured during the sport-by-sport presentations integrated into the official broadcast and stadium screens. Meanwhile, weightlifter junior world champ Albert Ian Delos Santos and Olympic boxer bronze medalist Aira Villegas led the Philippine contingent in the parade of athletes. The Asian Games begin in full swing on Sunday.
Gilas Pilipinas Women book Asian Games quarterfinals spot with rout of Hong Kong
Gilas Pilipinas Women advanced to the 2026 Asian Games quarterfinals after steamrolling Hong Kong, 90-73, on Sunday at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
Asian Games offer 'deepest apologies' for South Korea anthem blunder
Asian Games organizers offered "deepest apologies" on Saturday for playing the North Korean national anthem for the South Korean men's hockey team.
Japan wins first gold of home Asian Games in men's individual triathlon
Hosts Japan won the first gold of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after Takumi Hojo powered to victory in the men's individual triathlon on Sunday.
