85-year-old Pinoy athlete debuts as oldest Asian Games competitor

Advanced in age and probably in skills, Kong Te Yang heads the card game Bridge cavalry for the Philippines at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

Other than his remarkable skills in Bridge, Yang's age also grabbed headlines; it is, after all, unusual to see an 85-year-old athlete leads a team with members 10 to 50 years younger his age.

But age has its advantage when it comes to Bridge, which he compared to life itself.

The oldest competitor at #AsianGames2018 is competing in a sport making its debut. #EnergyofAsia https://t.co/Md5mMTjvxu

— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) August 22, 2018

"(It has) so many uncertainties, so many things to learn, so many techniques," Yang said.

The athlete, born in 1933, promotes an outlook that goes beyond the physical, a view he developed as a consequence of playing the card game.

"I suggest to be broader, broader in spirit, broader in mind, because the mind can eventually see our humanity," he said.

According to The Jakarta Post, this is the first time Bridge was included in the Asian Games.

It was included after a significant effort by 78-year-old billionaire Michael Pembang Hartono of Indonesia and several others.

Bridge is expected also to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. —Rie Takumi/LBG, GMA News