Yuka named PSA Athlete of Year

Even during the most challenging period in Philippine sports history, young pro golfer Yuka Saso still found a way to give the Philippines something to celebrate.

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 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, after a strong start on the Japan LPGA where she won two titles and finished a fighting 13th in the US Open, her first major tournament.

A native of San Ildefonso in Bulacan province, born to a Japanese father, Saso was the talk of the country for months. And because of her exploits, Saso will be recognized as the 2020 Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) in its traditional Awards Night on March 27 at the TV5 Media Center.

Saso leads a list of awardees to be honored by the country’s oldest media organization led by president Tito Talao of the Manila Bulletin during the virtual event presented by San Miguel Corporation and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Saso was also named the Athlete of the Year by Inquirer Sports recently.