Multi-titled Filipino jiu-jitsu star Annie Ramirez is back in the gold-medal hunt at the Southeast Asian Games.
With her trademark quiet confidence, Ramirez will compete once again in the women’s -57kg newaza event, where she is seeking a fourth SEA Games gold medal. She previously ruled the division in 2019, 2021, and 2023, dominating an event that focuses heavily on ground grappling and submission techniques.
“Doon ako ulit sasali sa original event ko. Dito ako laging nagme-medal,” said Ramirez, who has consistently been the country’s most reliable performer in newaza.
Her preparations gained strong momentum earlier this month after making her presence felt at the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation World Championships.
On November 2 in Bangkok, Thailand, Ramirez struck gold in the adult female -57kg division—her biggest achievement to date on the world stage.
But Ramirez expects a different challenge in this year’s SEA Games.
“Baka iba na ang kalaban ko. Nag-iba ng weight yung nakalaban ko sa finals,” she said, noting that her previous SEA Games rival, Thailand’s Orapa Senatham, appears to have moved to another weight class.
Ramirez defeated Senatham in the finals of the last SEA Games.
Her world championship triumph adds to an already packed trophy cabinet that includes gold medals from the Asian Championships, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, and multiple Southeast Asian Games editions.
