THE Philippines claimed its first gold medal in the 5th Asian Beach Games, courtesy of Margarita Ochoa in the women’s -45kg. division in jiu-jitsu on Sunday night.
Ochoa, a gold medalist in the 2015 World Jiu-jitsu Championships, displayed her awesome form to beat Thai Suwanan Boonsorn in their final encounter at the Bien Dong Park in Danang City, Vietnam.
On her way to the final, Ochoa defeated Vietnamese Do Thu Ha in the quarterfinal and Turkmenistan’s Dinara Jumadurdyyeva in the semifinal.
The Philippines is now in seventh place in the medal tally with one gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
Gian Taylor Dee pocketed the silver medal after losing to Iraqi Amir Yahya Abdulamir Albazy in the men’s -62kg. final.
In the women’s -62kg. event, Apryl Jessica Eppinger defeated Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy to forge a semifinal showdown with Jordanian Ruba Nicola Alsayegh,
“I am so elated that the first Philippine gold for team PHI was delivered by a woman jujitsu fighter, Meggie Ochoa. Equally proud of our kurash lady Helen Dawa for bringing us bronze. As we speak, another jiu-jitsu lady warrior Apryl Eppinger assured us of another bronze,” said Philippine delegation Chef de Mission Karen Tanchanco-Caballero in an interview on Monday.
“Our boys did not disappoint by delivering our first silver thru the hard work of jiu-jitsu Gian Dee. Muay boys also made us proud with three bronzes from Polosan, Delarmino and Gregorio. Good week for Team PHI in Danang!” added Tanchanco-Caballero, president of the Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association.
In Muay Thai, Jonathan Polosan and Jay Harold Gregorio formally claimed the bronze medals after losing their respective semifinal matches.
Polosan fell to Thai Chonlawit Preedasak in the men’s light welterweight (60-63.5kg.) division while Gregorio lost to Chinese Zhang Yongkang in the men’s middleweight (71-75kg.) category.
SEA Games veteran Helen Dawa contributed another bronze as semifinalist in the women’s kurash -52kg. division. Dawa defeated Mahima Tokas of India in the quarterfinals but lost to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Quynh, who pocketed the silver after bowing to compatriot Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy in the final.
In sepak takraw, the women’s trio of Gelyn Evora, Josefina Maat and Deseree Autor scored a 21-6, 21-2 victory over India in the preliminary round at the My Khe Beach, but bowed to Laos, 13-21, 20-22, in the next round.
Julian Reem Fuentes missed the podium in the men’s long jump competition held at the Son Thuy Beach. He measured 7.21 meters for fifth place.
Chinese Zhong Peifeng won the gold in 7.53 meters while Vietnamese Nguyen van Cong measured 7.47 meters to claim the silver. Iranian Sobhan Taherkhani registered 7.35 meters to settle for the bronze.
Lloyd Dennis Catipon and Jenielou Mosqueda are scheduled to compete in the kurash event.
Catipon will meet Kunal Deswal of India in the men’s -73kg. round-of-16 while Mosqueda will face Ayna Jumakulyeva of Turkmenistan in the women’s -57kg. quarterfinal.
Seeing action in jiu-jitsu are Jenina Kaila Napolis against Pakistani Maryam Maryam in the women’s -55kg. round-of-16; Annie Ramirez against Turkmenistan’s Angelina Filippova in the women’s -55kg. quarterfinal; and Lou-Ann Jindani against Indian Bhagyashree Onkar Bonde in the women’s -70kg. round-of-16.
Hansel Terrence Co was eliminated in the men’s -77kg. round-of-32 when he lost to Bahrain’s Ali Munfaredi.
In women’s volleyball, Regine Anne Arocha and Roxanne Gorre will face Chinese Wang Xinxin and Tang Ninya in the Pool D preliminary round.
