Filipina swimmer Kayla Sanchez during the women's 100-meter freestyle in the 2026 Asian Games, September 22, 2026 at the Tokyo Aquatics Center. POC Media
MANILA — Kayla Sanchez skipped the women's 100-meter backstroke on Wednesday, Sept. 23, as the Philippine coaching staff opted to preserve her energy for her final individual event, the 50-meter freestyle, at the 2026 Asian Games.
National team coach Ryan Arabejo sees the sprint as Sanchez's best opportunity to end the Philippines' 28-year wait for an Asian Games swimming medal when she takes the pool Thursday.
"There are things we cannot control, there are those we can. Doon tayo sa kaya nating ma-control. So, if we can rest Kayla and prepare her better for tomorrow's 50 meters where she has a very, very good chance of winning a gold, we gave her a rest," Arabejo said.
Sanchez placed fourth in the 100-meter freestyle event yesterday, where she clocked 53.65 seconds.
She was 0.18 seconds short of the bronze medal, with China's Cheng Yujie taking third in 53.47 seconds.
Despite the near miss, Arabejo praised Sanchez for taking an aggressive approach in the final.
"She took the risk, and went all out in the first 75 meters and as we saw, she was right there naunahan lang sa very last stroke, so we move on to the next," Arabejo said.
"Ang 50, anything goes diyan. It's anybody's game lalo na pag short ang event," he added.
Sanchez enters the 50-meter freestyle holding the Philippine national record at 24.86 seconds, set last August, while the Asian Games mark stands at 24.26 seconds, set by China's Zhang Yufei in 2023.