[Asian Games] Swimming champion determined to keep pursuing bigger goals

The Korea Times - Sep 21, 2026

TOKYO — Throughout his nine-minute interview after winning his first Asian Games gold medal on Monday, swimmer Kim Young-beom, the men's 50-meter freestyle champion, kept touching and cradling the prize around his neck, so incredulous was he that he had captured it. "Man, this thing is so heavy. I might get a neck spasm," Kim cracked. "I thought it would hit me once I put it around my neck. I still can't believe this gold medal is mine. They played our national anthem in such a big arena just to congratulate me. It was an incredible feeling. I didn't believe I had won this race even when I saw my name on the board right afterward." Kim's title-winning race at Tokyo Aquatics Centre also bordered on disbelief. He established an Asian record of 21.66 seconds, only hours after he had set one in the heats with 21.71 seconds. Rare is a swimmer who breaks a record in the heats, since athletes often save their best for the finals scheduled for later in the day. Even rarer is a swimmer who breaks his own record within the same day. "Ahead of the final, I just wanted to swim the same way...

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SportsPlus gives MPBL All-Star royal treatment
Sep 22, 2026

SportsPlus gives MPBL All-Star royal treatment

MANILA, Philippines — Expect sports to be elevated when SportsPlus gets involved. That was evident at the 2026 SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) All-Star Festivities held last Saturday at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal Province. As the official title partner of the country’s biggest regional basketball league, SportsPlus went all-out to deliver an All-Star experience worthy of the occasion. SportsPlus deployed a full production team to document, organize, and overall support the annual extravaganza, which featured an afternoon exhibition game between the North and South Division Executives, with the North and South All-Stars battling to an 89-89 draw. Hours before the festivities began, SportsPlus personnel were already at the venue, setting up activation booths, checking broadcast equipment, and rehearsing their various roles, including the energetic SportsPlus dancers who kept fans entertained throughout the event. By 1 p.m., the registration booth and fan zone were open, giving supporters the chance to mingle, take photos, and get up close with their favorite MPBL stars. The SP dancers added energy to the festivities during the intermissions, becoming part of the action in several events. Gilas Pilipinas legend Ranidel de Ocampo and stand-up comedian GB Labrador, both SportsPlus Balyahan hosts, scored and witnessed Joe Gomez de Liano’s highlight reel during the Slam Dunk Competition. Halftime brought even more excitement as fans had the chance to win SportsPlus T-shirts through Pop Up Shot/Bazooka and Molten basketballs tossed into the crowd by MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta, with help from Stepping Curry and Lebwrong James, the NBA impersonators portraying Stephen Curry and LeBron James, as well as SportsPlus mascot Kalaw D’Kalbaw. But among the biggest attractions was the SportsPlus Clutch Time Challenge. The challenge gave two contestants a chance to win P50,000  Neither contestant made it past the 3-pointer, settling for consolation prizes instead. Still, the Clutch Time Challenge has already handed out significant cash prizes in the past, with more up for grabs as the 2026 SportsPlus MPBL season continues. “SportsPlus is proud to be part of this year’s MPBL All-Star festivities. As the Official Title Partner of the MPBL, we are committed to creating a more engaging and memorable experience for fans through our activations, interactive games, and giveaways,” said SportsPlus Head of Brand Marketing Paul Macalindong. And SportsPlus is only getting started. The sportsbook is already preparing to bring the same level of energy and execution to the MPBL play-in tournament, playoffs, division finals, and National Finals. From the biggest moments on the court to the experiences surrounding them, SportsPlus continues to push for excellence, raising the bar every time it gets involved in Philippine sports. TMT