Jeus Yape wins Philippines' fourth gold at 2026 Asian Games

Filipino athlete Jeus Yape secured the Philippines’ fourth gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games by winning the mixed individual virtual taekwondo event. Competing at the Toyohashi Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan, Yape defeated Vietnam’s Ngoc Tuyet Sang Chau with a 2-0 score in the final.

Virtual taekwondo is a digital format where competitors wear headsets and sensors to execute strikes that are tracked as avatars on screen, eliminating the need for physical contact and weight classes. Yape’s path to the gold included victories over Dunya Bushuaib Saber of Saudi Arabia, Hayate Suzuki of Japan in the quarterfinals, and Rita Bakisheva of Kazakhstan in the semifinals.

This victory marks Yape’s second medal of the games, following a bronze in the men’s individual poomsae event. His performance brings the Philippines' total medal count to 4 gold, 5 silver, and 14 bronze, placing the nation in 15th place overall.