13-year-old Keirsten Fernandez wins PH's first gold at 2026 Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy

Keirsten Layne Fernandez, 13, won the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy on Tuesday in India.

Fernandez ruled the Junior C Girls category, clocking 1:44.307 in the 1000-meter final. Indonesia’s Matsuri Kinasih finished second in 1:44.636, while Hong Kong’s Jacey Yeung placed third in 1:45.727.

Meanwhile, the Philippines also secured its first medal from 8-year-old Kurt Zymone Zurbito, who bagged the bronze in the Junior F Boys 333-meter category.

Zurbito finished third behind Indian bets Yuvraj Mehta and Ivaan Arora.

The competition will run until August 20.

—JKC, GMA News