Leonard Grospe celebrates after winning gold in the high jump in the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. POC Media
MANILA -- The Philippine athletics team will return home with a haul of three medals -- one gold, one silver, and one bronze -- from the 6th Asian Beach Games in China.
Leading the charge for the seven-member squad were high jumper Leonard Grospe and sprinter Jessica Rose Laurance, who delivered standout performances for Team Philippines.
Grospe secured the country's first athletics gold medal — and the Philippines' second overall in the continental meet — after clearing 2.05 meters in his opening attempt in the men's high jump competition held at the Phoenix Island in the Hainan Province.
Asian Beach Games: Grospe strikes gold in men's high jump
The 24-year-old from Dilasag, Aurora clinched the top spot via countback, holding off Chinese Taipei's Po-Ting Yeh and China's Hao Zhang, who settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.
Laurance also shone brightly on the track, capturing the bronze in the women's 60-meter dash with a time of 7.52 seconds before returning to anchor the Philippines to the silver in the women's 4x60-meter relay alongside Shane Joy Ponce, Lianne Diana Pama, and Olympian Kristina Marie Knott.
Laurance, 22, finished just milliseconds behind Thailand's Jirapat Khanonta (7.46) and China's Jialu Xu (7.49) in the sprint event.
The Philippine quartet nearly struck gold in the relay after clocking 29.73 seconds, but Thailand narrowly prevailed with 29.46 seconds.
China settled for the bronze in 30.42 seconds.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) secretary-general Jasper Tanhueco described the country's beach athletics campaign as a success.
"Successful ang campaign. All the medals, gold, silver and bronze. So, we're very happy," said Tanhueco. "Kudos to these athletes. Give them the credit."
Tanhueco also expressed his gratitude to the POC and PSC for their unwavering support.
"Thank you sa PSC and POC kasi given na mas maaga talaga kami. So, mayroon silang enough days to adjust, enough days to try yung sand. Kasi pag late tayo dumating, mas konti yung adjustment. Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa POC at PSC na maaga rin kami pinapunta dito na nag-resulta din sa medal natin,"
Tanhueco also revealed that the association is eyeing the inclusion of pole vault when the Philippines hosts the 7th Asian Beach Games in Cebu in 2028.
"I think yung maganda is yung pole vault, which is ginagawa ito sa Busan. Sa sand, may runway lang yun pole vault. Maganda ito kasi tayo yung number one in Asia with EJ Obiena," said Tanhueco
"Hopefully, I mean, I'm not saying na meron kagad, pero tayo yung host. So, let's see," added Tanhueco.
The Philippine beach athletics team surpassed its 2016 medal output after collecting a richer haul highlighted by two bronze medals.
TEQBALL BETS BOW OUT
Meanwhile, the Philippine men's doubles teqball pair of Prince Agustin and Anel Pacis Jr. bowed out of contention after back-to-back defeats at the Sanya Bay Yuhai Club.
The duo first dropped its opener to powerhouse Lebanon, 6-12, 7-12, before absorbing another straight-sets loss to Laos, 9-12, 9-12.
Despite taking early leads in both sets, the Filipinos failed to sustain their momentum as the Laos side mounted late surges to seal the win and deny them a quarterfinal berth.
In mixed doubles action, Precious Tabucol and Klyde Polca also struggled, suffering a 1–12, 2-12 loss to host China in the preliminary round.
The Philippine pair's campaign came to an end after another defeat to Cambodia, 04-12, 3-12, officially closing Team Philippines' teqball run in the tournament.