TAGAYTAY, Philippines — THE Philippines led by world champion Fierre Afan proved itself as the next big grappling country in the continent after finishing second overall in the 2024 United World Wrestling (UWW) Asian Grappling Championship recently at the Tagaytay Combat Sports Arena in Tagaytay City.

Afan, 20, scored two gold medals in the weeklong tournament to lead the country to 16 gold medals, 26 silvers and 26 bronze medals to finish second overall in Asia behind No. 1 Kazakhstan with 39 golds and third place Singapore with two gold medals, five silvers and three bronzes.