Courtesy: POC Media
The Philippine Women’s Soft Tennis Team handed the Philippines its first medal in the 20th Asian Games on Sunday at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.
The quintet of Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Christy Sanosa, Hilary Paa, and Shyryn Salazar lost to host Japan in the semifinals, 0-2.
Catindig and Zoleta were swept by Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae, 0-5, in the first match before Sanosa also absorbed a shutout loss to Ayaka Iwakura, 0-4, in the second match.
For team captain Zoleta, their bronze glittered like gold as the country captured its first medal in the sports after 32 years.
“Sobrang saya kasi ito nga very historic win for us sa Philippine soft tennis. First time ito na maka-podium finish since 1994. Sobrang happy na naka medal kami para sa bayan,” she told POC Media.
“Ito [medalya] ang pinagapangarap namin sa soft tennis. Ito ang Olympics namin so magka-medalya dito is na paka laking bagay para sa amin,” she added.
The Filipinas will also see action in mixed doubles starting on September 21, with Zoleta teaming up with Samuel Nuguit and Sanosa partnering with Sherwin Nuguit.
They will also compete in the women’s and men’s singles events on September 22.
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