SUNCHANG, SOUTH KOREA — The Philippine women's doubles team captured the bronze medal at the Sunchang Open International Soft Tennis Tournament, marking a significant achievement ahead of the upcoming World Championships in Anseong City.

According to Philippines News Agency, she and her partner Princess Catindig faced stiff competition in the semifinals, falling to South Korean players Lee Hangyeol and Kim Koeun with a close score of 4-5 (7) at the Sunchang Public Stadium on Saturday. The team, consisting of 13 athletes, four coaches, and one official, is now preparing to compete in the World Championships, which are scheduled from September 3 to 9.

The Philippine team's history at the World Championships includes three bronze medals won by Josephine Paguyo in 1995 in Japan, Joseph Arcilla in 2011 in Korea, and Zoleta-Mañalac in 2015 in India. Zoleta-Mañalac shared her optimism for the upcoming event, citing the recent bronze medal win and a productive training camp as positive indicators of the team's readiness. She will compete in the women's doubles, mixed doubles, and team events.

Emphasizing the importance of physical preparation, Zoleta-Mañalac mentioned the team's cautious approach to maintaining fitness and preventing injuries, especially given the challenging clay courts. The team's training regimen began with a three-week camp in South Korea starting on August 9, with the women's team initially training in Daegu before joining the men's team in Sunchang City.

Head coach Michael Enriquez expressed high hopes for the team's performance at the World Championships, buoyed by their successful training and recent competition results. The team's support staff includes assistant coaches Josephine Paguyo, Wenifredo De Leon, Mark Anthony Alcoseba, and physical therapist Mathew Tayson from the Philippine Sports Commission-Medical and Scientific Services.