Mandaluyong City: The Philippines secured three silver medals in the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) Manila Open held at Padel Play in Mandaluyong City on Sunday night. Joanna Tao Yee Tan, who holds the No. 2 spot in the APPT rankings, alongside Mariam Yasmin Garsin, was defeated by the Japanese-Spanish pair of Kotomi Ozawa and Elizabeth Nogueras, with a score of 1-6, 2-6 in the pro female final.
According to Philippines News Agency, Tan, teaming up with Argil Lance Ca±izares, also claimed a silver medal in the pro mix category. They faced a challenging match against Ozawa and Malaysian Christian Didier Chin, concluding with a scoreline of 4-6, 5-7. In the pro men's final, Spanish duo Pol Asina and Eduard Altimeres Ros emerged victorious over their compatriots Marc Bernils and Sergi Nogueras Lorenz, winning 7-6, 6-4.
In the amateur division, the Malaysian team of Tiong Hoey Chua and Wee Ming Hock captured the men's title, defeating Belgium's Kobe Cuppens and Alexandre Renard, 6-3, 7-6. Meanwhile, Lune Wang and Luciana Ingaramo secured the women's title against Filipinos Mayumi Jane Toribio and Elmira Pagot, with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. In the amateur mix final, Hiu Laam Isabella Chan and Tsz Yan Adrian Yao outplayed Wang and Giorgio Berni, 6-1, 6-1.
Padel Pilipinas founder Senator Pia Cayetano expressed optimism about the Philippines' potential to become a global sports hub, citing the Manila Open as a significant step in this direction. She highlighted the importance of sports hosting for promoting wellness and sports tourism. Cayetano also emphasized the role of such events in showcasing Filipino talent and fostering international competition.
Cayetano, an advocate for sports development, underscored the necessity of building a robust national team. She pointed out that while the country has produced exceptional individual athletes, a systematic approach is essential for nurturing a new generation of players. She stated, "The goal is to build a strong team. That they're inspirational. That they're also learning in the process. So, that's what I see with our national team right now."
