SANYA, China — The Philippine women’s sprint team delivered a stellar performance on the sands of Phoenix Island, securing a silver medal in beach athletics during the sixth Asian Beach Games. The podium finish on Sunday, April 26, 2026, helped keep Team Philippines in third place overall in the continental multi-sport event.
The Philippine quartet, led by Olympian Kristina Knott, finished second in the 4×60 meter relay.
- The Team: Joining Knott were Jessica Rose Laurance, Shane Joy Ponce, and Lianne Diana Pama.
- Personal Milestone: For Jessica Rose Laurance, the silver medal added to the bronze she secured individually on Saturday, marking a successful debut in beach competition.
- The Challenge: Running on sand presented unique technical hurdles. Knott noted that the lack of a traditional baton and a significantly smaller exchange zone (three meters compared to the usual 30 meters) were the team’s biggest obstacles.
“It’s so different… our only enemy in the race was the zone,” Knott remarked, reflecting on the adjustment from track to beach athletics.
The Philippine delegation continues to punch above its weight, maintaining a top-three position in the overall tally:
- China: 13 Gold | 11 Silver | 4 Bronze
- Thailand: 4 Gold | 5 Silver | 3 Bronze
- Philippines: 3 Gold | 2 Silver | 2 Bronze
Beyond the sprint track, Philippine beach volleyball teams also made significant strides at the Tianya Haijiao Venue Cluster:
- Villapando-Matibag Duo: Sunny Villapando and Grydelle Matibag dominated their Sri Lankan opponents (21-15, 21-13) to advance to the Last Eight. They are scheduled to face Japan on Monday.
- Progella-Pagara Duo: Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara also secured a quarter-final berth after defeating Kazakhstan (21-11, 21-14). They will face a tough Thai squad in their next match.
With the Games entering their final stretch, Team Philippines remains focused on adding to their “medal cache.” The success in both beach athletics and volleyball highlights the country’s growing prowess in non-traditional sporting environments. As the week continues, all eyes will be on the volleyball quarterfinals and upcoming individual sprint events.