THE Philippines’ loss, Japan’s gain?
Only time can tell, for now.
Reigning US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso has chosen her Japanese nationality when she turns 22 in three years from now.
“I chose Japan because of its nationality law,” Saso told a Japanese publication last night before her Toto Japan Classic campaign where she will still be flying the colors of the Philippines.
“Whatever happens in the future, I’m still Filipino and I’m still Japanese,” she added.
Under the Japanese nationality law, dual citizens must select their nationality by the age of 22.
Saso, 19, won two gold medals for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and donned the country’s colors in the last Tokyo Olympics where she finished in 9th place after a closing 65.
In her maiden Olympic stint, the Fil-Japanese Saso scored a 10-under par 274 following a blazing 65 in the final round, after finding herself at 47th place after the first 18 holes.
Born in San Ildefonso, Bulacan to a Filipina mother and a Japanese father, the world No. 6 Saso was named Athlete of the Year of the Philippine Sportswriters Association last March.
Making the big decision was tough, according to Saso.
“I don’t want to choose because I’m both,” she said.“Why choose, right?”
