Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape will lead Team Philippines as flag-bearer during the closing ceremony of the 20th Asian Games on Sunday, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced Saturday.
Yape earned the honor after a standout campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, highlighted by a gold medal in the mixed individual virtual taekwondo event.
“He’s deserving for that honor,” Tolentino said ahead of the closing ceremony, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Manila time at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium.
Tolentino said Yape’s selection also recognizes Philippine taekwondo, which ended a long wait for an Asian Games gold medal.
“It will be a recognition not only for Jeus but also for taekwondo, which finally won its first Asian Games gold medal since 1994, when the sport became a medal event in the games,” Tolentino said.
Yape topped the mixed virtual taekwondo competition on Friday, an open-gender event that combines combat sports with virtual reality and motion-tracking technology.
His gold was part of a historic medal haul for Philippine taekwondo in the Games, with the national jins collecting one gold, three silver medals and one bronze.
Yape also secured a bronze in the men’s individual poomsae competition.
Joining Yape in the Philippine delegation for the closing ceremony will be silver medalists Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, Tachiana Keizha Mangin, Kurt Barbosa and boxer Carlo Paalam.
Aira Villegas, who won bronze in boxing at the Paris Olympics, and world junior weightlifting champion Albert Ian de los Santos served as the Philippines’ flag-bearers during the opening ceremony on September 19. (Adrian Co)
