This picture taken on September 8, 2025 shows a woman walking past an advertisement for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. Yuichi Yamazaki, AFP/File
MANILA -- Four slots in taekwondo have been added to the Philippine delegation for the 20th Asian Games later this year, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) confirmed.
The Philippines will get two slots in poomsae and two in kyorugi for the multi-sport event that is set for September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya and Aichi, Japan.
For POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, this development is a boost to the country's medal chances. Filipino athletes are hoping to improve upon their performance in 2022, where they brought home four golds, two silver, and 12 bronze medals.
"Competition at the Asian Games has already become that high level and elite so winning medals are close to the degree of difficulty in the Olympics," said Tolentino, adding that the Japanese host cities also allocated one slot for para taekwondo.
Recently, the Alas Pilipinas Men and Women's volleyball teams also confirmed their qualification to the Asiad.
The POC is looking to send more than 700 athletes to Nagoya and Aichi, with Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo and reigning Asian champion EJ Obiena leading the charge.
The spotlight will also be on Gilas Pilipinas, which is looking to defend the gold medal after a historic campaign in China four years ago.