Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape (R) of the Philippines celebrates with his coach after winning the gold medal in the mixed individual virtual taekwondo competition during the 2026 Asian Games at the Toyohashi Gymnasium in Toyohashi on October 2, 2026. David Gray, AFP
Taekwondo gold medalist Jeus Yape will carry the Philippine flag during the parade of athletes in Sunday's closing ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
"He's deserving [of] that honor," said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino on the eve of the closing ceremony.
The festivities are scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. (Manila time) at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, where the hosts opened the games two weeks ago.
READ: Jeus Yape shines in virtual taekwondo for PH's fourth gold
"It will be a recognition not only for Jeus but also for taekwondo, which finally won its first Asian Games gold medal since 1994, when the sport became a medal event in the games," Tolentino added.
Yape won a bronze in the men's individual poomsae then scored a breakthrough gold in mixed virtual taekwondo — an open gender event that combines the combat sports with virtual reality and motion-tracking technology.
His feat highlighted taekwondo's five-medal haul in the Asiad, which included three bronzes.
Also joining the closing ceremony are silver medalist Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, Tachiana Keizha Mangin and Kurt Barbosa of taekwondo and Carlo Paalam of boxing.
Paris Olympics boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and weightlifting world junior champion Albert Ian de los Santos were the flag bearers during the September 19 opening ceremony.