Filipino Jeus Yape Wins First Taekwondo Gold in Asian Games Virtual Event

At 22, Jeus Yape became the first Filipino to capture a taekwondo gold medal when he triumphed in the mixed individual virtual taekwondo at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The victory helped the Philippines equal its four‑gold tally from the 2018 and 2023 Games, joining compatriots Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena in the medal count. Yape also earned a bronze in the men’s individual poomsae, making him one of only two Filipino athletes to win multiple medals at this edition. Hailing from a taekwondo family in Leyte, he began training at age four, shifted from sparring to poomsae in high school, and earned a scholarship at the University of Sto. Tomas. Virtual taekwondo, a new discipline that blends motion‑tracking and virtual reality, requires athletes to deliver rapid, high‑impact kicks measured by acceleration, with no physical contact. Yape’s win places him alongside established Olympians and highlights the growing prominence of digital sports formats. He remains a student of fitness and sports management at UST.