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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Olympian Kiyomi Watanabe banners PH judokas in Asian Games

Olympian Kiyomi Watanabe banners PH judokas in Asian Games

Published Aug 20, 2026 01:51 pm

At A Glance

  • Two-time Olympian Kiyomi Watanabe flies the flag once more as she headlines the Philippine national judo team in the coming 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan next month.
Kiyomi Watanabe (Waseda University Judo Club)
Kiyomi Watanabe (Waseda University Judo Club)
Two-time Olympian Kiyomi Watanabe flies the flag once more as she headlines the Philippine national judo team in the coming 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan next month.
The 29-year-old Watanabe spearheads the 8-strong squad together with several multi-medalists in the Southeast Asian Games, including Chino Sy Tancontian.
Eager to bounce back from her seventh-place finish in the women’s -63kg event of the previous edition held in Hangzhou, China nearly three years ago, Watanabe moves to the heavier class in -78kg where she looks to secure a medal this time. She is joined by Sy’s fellow University of Santo Tomas standout Khrizzie Pabulayan.
Watanabe’s silver in the Jakarta meet in 2018 is the first and only Asian Games medal of the Philippines in judo so far.
Tancontian, on the other hand, sprints into his maiden Asiad action with an aim of a podium finish in the men’s -100kg category.
Completing the cast are Daryl John Mercado (-60kg), Keisei Nakano (-66kg), who also competed in 2018 Asiad, Gabriel Benedict Quitain (-73kg), and Eskelen Kedo (+100kg).
In the distaff side, rising star Joemari Heart Rafael, who bagged silver in 2025 SEA Games, vies in the women’s -57kg.
Apart from Watanabe and Nakano, all remaining members are making their debuts in the continental showpiece.

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