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Yuka Saso of Japan

Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1717855793580AFP__20240603__2155774994__v2__HighRes__USWomenSOpenPresentedByAllyFinalRound.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Yuka Saso of Japan celebrates on the 18th green during the final round of the U.S. Women&#x27;s Open Presented by Ally at Lancaster Country Club on June 02, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Patrick Smith, Getty Images/AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Yuka Saso of Japan celebrates on the 18th green during the final round of the U.S. Women&#x27;s Open Presented by Ally at Lancaster Country Club on June 02, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. <em>Patrick Smith, Getty Images/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Yuka Saso is still proud of her Filipino heritage even though she is now carrying the Japanese flag in international competitions.</p><p>Saso, 22, born in San Ildefonso, Bulacan to a Filipino mother and a Japanese father, said &quot;nothing has really changed&quot; now that she plays for a different country.</p><p>The acclaimed golfer has won her second title in the US Women&#x27;s Open earlier this week. Saso first made history when she became the first Filipino to win it in the 2021 iteration of the tourney.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/multimedia/slideshow/06/07/21/in-photos-pinoy-pride-oozes-as-yuka-saso-puts-country-in-golfing-map"><strong>READ: Yuka Saso wins 2024 US Open</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/3/golfer-yuka-saso-kampeon-ulit-sa-us-women-s-open-1901"><strong>READ: Golfer Yuka Saso kampeon ulit sa US Women&#x27;s Open</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Well, I&#x27;ve always been half-Japanese, half-Filipino,&quot; Saso said during a media availability session. &quot;Yeah, I&#x27;m thankful for my family back in Philippines, all my sponsors who have been supporting me through ups and downs and all the trust they have given me.&quot;</p><p>Saso became the first-ever player to win US Women&#x27;s Open titles for two different countries.</p><p>&quot;I think I said this in other interviews as well. If I could put two flags beside my name, I would, but I cannot. But I think the whole world already knows that I&#x27;m half-Filipino, half-Japanese.&quot;</p><p>It can be remembered that Saso chose Japanese citizenship for the perks its passport holds.</p><p>Under a Japanese law, those with dual citizenships must choose one by their 22nd birthday.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/24/22/saso-explains-decision-to-choose-japanese-citizenship"><strong>READ: Yuka Saso explains decision to choose Japanese citizenship</strong></a></div><p>Saso said in the same interview that she still represents Philippines and &quot;that will never change.&quot;</p><p>&quot;And, you know, even when I was representing Philippines, I&#x27;ve always thought that I&#x27;m always half-Japanese as well. And even now that I&#x27;m representing Japan, I&#x27;ve always think that I&#x27;m half-Filipino. So, that will never change.&quot;</p><p>Saso once gifted the Philippines with a historic gold medal in the Asian Games.</p><p>&quot;I love growing up in Philippines and I always go back there.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nothing have really changed. It&#x27;s just that, the outside, like paperwork or whatever it is, it is just that on those sides.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_9Wvxm4aBzQ??si=yFnGFB-MLc6bfTng&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Yuka Saso is still proud of her Filipino heritage even though she is now carrying the Japanese flag in international competitions.</p>

Yuka Saso is still proud of her Filipino heritage even though she is now carrying the Japanese flag in international competitions.

Yuka Saso remains proud of Filipino heritage: 'I always go back there'

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Yuka Saso remains proud of Filipino heritage: 'I always go back there'

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2024 10:18 PM PHT

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Updated June 09, 2024 01:25 AM PHT

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Yuka Saso

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