MANILA: Thanks to Margarita Ochoa in the women’s -45kg. division in jiu-jitsu, the Philippines has bagged its first gold medal in the 5th Asian Beach Games (ABG).
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, reported Philippine News Agency (PIA).
On her way to the finals, Ochoa reportedly 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 medals tally with one gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
Gian Taylor Dee reportedly 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, said the news portal
“I am so elated that the first Philippine gold for team PHI was delivered by 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,” Philippine delegation Chef de Mission Karen Tanchanco-Caballero was quoted as saying in an interview.
“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, reported PIA.
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, the report said.
Photon grab from Atos Philippines Facebook. account
