Aira Villegas, Albert Ian delos Santos named PH flag bearers for 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony

Olympic boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and young weightlifting standout Albert Ian delos Santos will carry the Philippine flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Villegas, who bagged a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, also copped a silver in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

Delos Santos, meanwhile, won three gold medals at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships last month and bagged a silver in last year's SEA Games.

POC president Abraham Tolentino said Albert Ian delos Santos (weightlifting) and Aira Villegas (boxing) will be the PH flag bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/RhHfoBbgPO

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The Philippines will send a delegation of more than 400 athletes and officials to this year’s Asiad in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which officially opens on September 19.

Philippine competition, however, will begin on Friday, with Gilas Pilipinas opening its title defense against Bahrain.

—GMA News