Yape wins virtual taekwondo title for Philippines’ fourth Asian Games gold
The 22-year-old defeated Vietnam’s Chau Ngoc Tuyet Sang 2-0, earning the Philippines its first Asian Games taekwondo gold.
Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape won the mixed individual title in virtual taekwondo at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan on October 2, bringing the Philippine gold count to four. He defeated Vietnam’s Chau Ngoc Tuyet Sang 2-0 at Toyohashi Gymnasium.
The victory gave the Philippines its first taekwondo gold at the Asian Games. Yape, 22, also earned bronze in men’s individual poomsae, making the virtual event his second medal of these Games.
His route to the final included victories over Dunya Bushuaib Saber of Saudi Arabia in the last 16, Hayate Suzuki of Japan in the quarterfinals and Rita Bakisheva of Kazakhstan in the semifinals.
Virtual taekwondo made its Asian Games debut at this edition. Athletes use motion-tracking sensors and virtual reality headsets to operate digital avatars. Successful attacks reduce an opponent’s health bar, while filling a stun meter temporarily prevents the opponent from defending.
Yape became the third Philippine gold medallist at these Games, joining gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena. The country’s four golds equal its totals at Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2023.
