Saso rises in trying moments
Multi-titled golfer to be honored as Athlete of the Year in virtual event
Even during the most challenging period in Philippine sports history, young golfer Yuka Saso still found a way to stand up and deliver. The 19-year-old Saso was a bundle of hope and inspiration for the more than 100 million Filipinos at a time when local sports took a severe beating as the COVID19 outbreak cast its huge shadows not only in the country but globally as well.
The Filipina golfer who hails from San Ildefonso, Bulacan hardly missed a beat after turning pro in 2020 following a remarkable amateur career highlighted by a double gold medal in the 2018 Asian
Games.
Two straight titles in the rich Japan LPGA and a strong 13th place finish in the US Open in her first crack at a major LPGA championship capped Saso’s rookie season that gave Philippine sports the kick it needed in this trying times.
As bearer of good tidings and optimism in perhaps the most difficult period for Filipino athletes since World War II, Saso will be recognized with the 2020 Athlete of the Year award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) come its traditional Awards Night on March 27 at the TV5 Media Center.
Saso leads a compact list of awardees to be honored by the country’s oldest media organization during the virtual event presented by San Miguel Corporation and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Long-time partner Cignal TV will again cover the awards presentation also supported by 1-Pacman Partylist and Rain or Shine.
This will be Saso’s second Athlete of the Year honor in the last three years, but first time as an individual awardee as she previously shared the accolade with fellow golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, along with weightlifer Hidilyn Diaz during the 2018 edition of the annual event following their gold medal romp in the Jakarta Asiad.