ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan—Jiu-jitsu specialist Marc Alexander Lim and wrestler Jonathan Maquilan defeated their rivals to move closer to the medal rounds on Monday in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
The 20-year-old Lim beat Arslan Setdarow of Turkmenistan, 4-0, in the men’s Ne-waza -69kg division to the disappointment of an adoring crowd at the Martial Arts Arena here.
The 2015 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships bronze medalist scored four points with two minutes and 40 seconds left in the first round after locking Setdarow in a superior position.
Lim, who hails from Davao City, faces Ibrahim Abdulla Mohammed Alhosani of United Arab Emirates in the quarterfinals.
Maquilan also moved forward to the quarterfinals following a 5-0 win over Jawid Ahmad Amiri of Afghanistan in the men’s classic -62kg traditional wrestling at the Main Indoor Arena.
Maquilan will have Turkemnistan’s Isgender Asyrow as opponent in the next round.
The twin victories of Lim and Maquilan saved the day for the Filipinos, who absorbed a series of setbacks in their respective disciplines as well as in athletics.