Progella and Pagara win Philippines’ first Asian Games beach volleyball medal
The Filipino pair recovered from a set down and saved match point against China to secure bronze in Japan.
Khylem Harl Progella and Sofiah Shanine Pagara earned bronze for the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games on October 2, defeating China’s Cao Shuting and Don Jie 13-21, 23-21, 15-13. Their victory at Japan’s Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court delivered the country’s first Asian Games medal in beach volleyball.
The Filipino pair faced match point with China ahead 20-19 in the second set. Pagara levelled the score with a drop shot, beginning a 4-1 run that forced a deciding set. China then held a 12-11 advantage in the third, but Progella and Pagara took four of the remaining five points to secure the medal.
Both aged 20, the Alas Pilipinas players had lost to Thailand in straight sets in the semifinals. That was their only defeat of the tournament, after a 3-0 preliminary-round record and a straight-sets victory over Hong Kong in the round of 16.
The Philippines’ other pairing, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, exited in the quarterfinals on September 30. The reigning Southeast Asian Games champions lost 21-17, 12-21, 15-13 to Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee.
