Yuka Saso will give up her Filipino citizenship to become Japanese national in 2023.
REIGNING US Women’s champion and Tokyo Olympian Yuka Saso announced her decision to opt for her Japanese citizenship over her current Filipino nationality.
Her change of nationality change will take effect in 2023.
“I chose Japan because of its nationality law,” the 20-year-old Saso said on the eve of the Toto Japan Classic in Shiga Prefecture, her first JLPGA event since finishing tied for ninth in the Bridgestone Ladies last May.
“I have in my heart that I am both Japanese and Filipino no matter which one I choose,” she added.
Japan has a national law stating that citizens who hold dual passports must decide by the age of 22 which citizenship to take up.
Saso is turning 22 on June 20, 2023.
She is the child of a Japanese father and Filipino mother who is from San Ildefonso, Bulacan.
The family moved to Japan when she was four years old but returned to the Philippines when she was eight.
The Filipino-Japanese golfer first rose to fame when she represented the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia where she won gold medals in the women's individual and team events.
She’s currently ranked sixth in the world, the youngest player in the Top 10.
Despite being only 20 years old, she has been competing in international tournaments for years.
She turned professional when she was only 18 in 2019 after earning her LPGA of Japan Tour Card.
She still has plans to go to college, but she won’t be setting aside her pro career as she continues to climb world rankings.
The ace golfer will have to take off her loaded November schedule for the LPGA Tour.
Saso will also compete at the Pelican Women’s Championship on Nov. 11-14 and the CME Group Tour Championship on Nov. 18-21, both happening in Florida, USA.
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