NAGOYA, Japan — Amaya Cojuangco took down Iran and survived a one-point thriller against South Korea to become the first Filipino compound archer to reach an Asian Games gold medal match. No Filipino had ever gone this far in the event.

The longtime national team mainstay ultimately took silver at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, falling 139-137 to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah in the final. It is the best Asian Games compound result ever by a Filipino.

Cojuangco’s Road to the Asian Games Archery Final

In the quarterfinals, Cojuangco overwhelmed Iran’s Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei, 146-135. She fired three perfect 30-point ends in the second, third and fifth.

The semifinal was far tighter. Cojuangco edged South Korea’s Park Jungyoon, 142-141, by the slimmest of margins to reach the gold medal match.

Gold Medal Match: How Cojuangco Fell Two Points Short

At Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square, Cojuangco went toe-to-toe with Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah in the final. The two tied the opening end at 28-28 and the third end at 29-29.

Ashrifah prevailed, 139-137, to take gold and leave the Filipina two points short of the title. Cojuangco pushed the match down to the final arrow before settling for silver.

The silver also eclipses the previous Philippine best in Asian Games compound archery, a bronze won by Paul Marton Dela Cruz in 2014. It is a historic result for the veteran and for Philippine archery.