The country’s first-ever SEA Games medalist in tennis Marissa Dizon Sanchez passed away at 69 years old.
The Philippine tennis community was plunged into mourning at the turn of the New Year following the passing of pioneer Marissa Dizon Sanchez. She was 69.
News of her death was shared by her nephew and DFA Assistant Secretary for Civilian Security Elmer Cato on social media on the evening of January 4, Sunday.
Cato took pride in Dizon Sanchez’ achievements, which included being the country’s first-ever medalist in tennis at the Southeast Asian Games – an event which recently made headlines after Alex Eala won the country’s first gold medal in 26 years in women’s singles.
“The pride of the Sanchez Ayuyao clan of Angeles City and Magalang, Pampanga, Auntie Marissa rose to fame at a time when tennis was a male-dominated sport in the Philippines,” Cato wrote.
“My mother’s first cousin, Auntie Marissa, became the country’s No. 1 female player in 1975 after winning the National Open and the Philippine Tennis Association Open. In 1977, she became the first Filipino to bring home a medal for tennis at the Southeast Asian Games."
She fell short of winning gold after losing to Indonesia’s Yolanda Sumarno in the final.
She would go on to add another medal in the same edition of the biennial meet, capturing bronze in the women’s team event alongside Ruby Chiongbian, Gladys Imperial, and Pia Tamayo.
“Long before Alex Eala, there was Marissa Dizon Sanchez, who brought prestige and honor to the Philippines and the Filipino people as one of the top tennis sensations of her era,” Cato noted in his tribute.
She last competed for the national team in the Federation Cup in 1981.
Sanchez retired from competitive tennis in her 30s and later worked as a coach at the Angeles City Tennis Club.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.