Jean Claude Saclag has secured at least a bronze medal for Team Philippines after scoring a unanimous decision victory over Saudi Arabia’s Saud Fawaz Almolhem in the MMA Traditional -65kgs quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Games.
But Saclag is far from satisfied.
The Filipino fighter will face Otabek Rajabov of Tajikistan in the semifinals, with a spot in the gold medal match at stake.
“Thankful ako sa mga coaches and kay God, kasi in-assure niya ako ng bronze. But I want to go to the gold medal match. I want to win the gold,” said Saclag.
Saclag enters the semifinals with confidence, having previously faced some of the fighters in the field during competition in Uzbekistan, where he emerged as a gold medalist.
“Nakikita ko ‘yung mga kalaro ko ngayon, ‘yung iba nakalaro ko na sa Uzbekistan and thank God ako po ‘yung nag-gold doon. So kumpyansa po ako na kaya ko,” he said.
He also credited his coaching staff for keeping the team prepared and determined throughout the Asian Games.
“Ito ‘yung maganda sa team namin ngayon, kasi win-win, masipag ang mga coaches namin kaya kakayanin talaga,” Saclag said.
For Saclag, however, the medal is about more than personal achievement. He hopes a gold medal in Nagoya can inspire the next generation of Filipino athletes.
“Alam ko marami akong pwedeng ma-inspire na bata kapag nanalo ako dito, so isa ‘yun sa iniisip ko na sana maka-ginto tayo,” he added.
With bronze already secured, Saclag now has one more fight standing between him and a shot at Asian Games gold. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
