SACLAG STRIKES SILVER, GIVES PH EARLY ASIAD BOOST
23 September 2026
JEAN Claude Saclag gave the Philippines its first silver medal in the 2026 Asian Games after fighting his way to a runner-up finish in the men’s traditional -65kg mixed martial arts competition Tuesday at the Inae Sports Center.
Saclag battled Tajikistan’s Otabek Rajabov for the gold but saw his bid for the championship end in a 0-3 defeat, settling for the silver medal in the continental showcase.
Despite missing out on the top prize, Saclag’s performance provided a significant addition to the Philippine medal tally and brought the country’s total to four.
The Filipino MMA veteran had been among Team Philippines’ medal hopes in combat sports and delivered by reaching the championship bout.
Saclag’s silver came on the heels of three bronze-medal performances by Philippine athletes earlier in the Games.
The country’s first bronze was secured by the women’s soft tennis team composed of Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Christy Sanosa, Shyryn Salazar and Hilary Paas.
MMA fighter Carlos Alvarez then added another bronze after placing third in the men’s traditional -77kg competition.
The third bronze came from karatekas Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante and Rebecca Cyril Torres, who prevailed over Thailand, 4-1, in the women’s team kata bronze-medal match.
The Philippine trio advanced to the semifinals after sweeping Cambodia, 5-0, in the quarterfinals. Iran ended their gold-medal hopes with another 5-0 sweep in the semifinals, forcing the Filipinas into the bronze-medal playoff.
They responded with a strong performance against Thailand, winning four of the five judges’ decisions to secure the podium finish.
Saclag then followed with the Philippines’ first silver, giving the delegation another reason to celebrate as the Aichi-Nagoya Games entered another busy stretch of competition.
While Rajabov denied him the gold, Saclag’s silver placed the Filipino fighter on the Asian Games podium and strengthened the country’s early medal campaign.
With more events still to come, Team Philippines continues its quest for additional medals in Aichi-Nagoya.
