HEARTBREAK IN NAGOYA

The jubilation brought by Ernest John Obiena’s golden triumph didn’t last long as Alex Eala — the country’s brightest hope — kissed her chances for the gold medal goodbye in the lawn tennis competition of the 20th Asian Games at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya.

The 21-year-old Eala, who traded her stint in the WTA 1000 China Open for a chance to win a historic gold medal in this prestigious continental showcase and punch a ticket to the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, suffered a heartbreaking 6-3, 3-6, 2-6 setback to Wang Xiyu of China in the semifinals of the women’s singles event.

The loss came at the heels of her equally painful 5-7, 2-6 loss in the women’s doubles event, where she and her partner, Shaira Rivera, were ousted by the Chinese pair of Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan in the second round late Wednesday.

Eala stressed that she has no regrets trading the China Open for the Asian Games but admitted that flying home without a gold medal hanging around her neck is truly painful.

“It meant a lot to me to be here and compete. At the end of the day, I gave my all. I prepared the best I could and fought the best I could,” said Eala, who settled for bronze — the same color of medal she had during her Asian Games debut in Hangzhou in 2023.

“I’m happy that I was able to have this experience.”

Against an underdog Chinese foe — the world No. 86 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association ranking — Eala had a fast start and appeared to be headed for an easy victory as she dominated in the first five games using her strong forehand.

But the Chinese, whose career best ranking is No. 49, discovered her rhythm in the second set before going for the kill in the third, completely shocking Eala and the Filipino fans who are expecting no less than a gold from the fastest-rising player in the WTA tour.

Eala said she will take a time off to clear her head before flying to China to resume her professional campaign.

“Yeah, I need time to process it and think about it, like you said,” the Filipina said.

“I’m going to Wuhan and continuing the tour.”

With the god medal from Eala completely gone, Team Philippines’ hope to surpass its performance of four gold medals in Hangzhou is slowly evaporating as this prestigious continental showpiece enters its final stretch. Their last chance — Olympian Carlo Paalam — will climb the ring on Friday to battle hometown bet Yamaguchi Rui for the gold medal of the men’s 55-kilogram event.

Still, the day didn’t end in tears.

Team Philippines’ scored some consolation medals from a veteran archer and a very young jin, who is regarded as the future of Philippine taekwondo.

Forty-year-old Amaya Cojuangco proved that she remains on target as she settled for the silver medal in the women’s compound individual event after losing a tight 137-139 final to Nurisa Dian Ashrifah of Indonesia at Ozakaki Chuo Sogo Park.

Cojuangco’s silver was quite special as it ended a 12-year medal wait for Philippine archery, which last reached the Asiad podium when Paul Marton Dela Cruz won bronze in the men’s individual compound event in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Jin Juliana Candelaria, 18, also added a silver after scoring 9.1300 points in the women’s individual poomsae.

South Korea’s Jung Haeun won gold with 9.3100 points, while Thailand’s Thitaree Kaewolanwasu and Japan’s Yuiko Niwa shared the bronze.

In padel, Dana Abad and Joshea Malazarte advanced to the women’s pairs semifinal after beating Iran’s Saba Najafi Dehaghi and Neda Mohammad Taghipour, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center.

The Filipinas face Indonesia’s Fitriani Sabitani and Fadona Kusumawati on Friday at noon, with a spot in the final at stake.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas standouts Khylem Harl Progella and Sofiah Pagara fell to Taravadee Naraphonapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee of Thailand, 21-23, 18-21, in the women’s beach volleyball semifinal at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court.

Progella and Pagara can still salvage a bronze when they face Cao Shuting and Dong Jie of China on Friday at 11 a.m. at the same venue.