NAGOYA, Japan – Kaila Napolis saved the day for the Philippines in the second day of the 20th Asian Games jiu jitsu competition after bagging the bronze medal in the women’s -52kg on Friday at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.
She defeated Mongolia’s Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0.
“Well, bronze medal, it’s an honor pa rin to win a bronze medal here in a big competition. I was happy I was able to pull the two points on this bronze medal,” said Napolis, who had to go through the repechage and duplicate the same medal she won at the Hangzhou Games three years ago.
“Well, sobrang disappointed ko na nung second match pa lang,” said Napolis, who fell to Mongolia’s Mongoljin Gabaatar in the quarterfinals, 2-3.
“So gusto ko talagang bumawi with the bronze medal. I wanna give it all. And thankfully, na-pull off ko naman siya,” she added.
Earlier in the day, another world champion in Annie Ramirez, who won the gold in -57kg in Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, suffered a shocking exit in the round of 16 after losing to Thailand’s Nuchanat Singchalad.
In the other matches, Luigi Dy lost to Mongolia’s Davaadorj Munkhtur, 0-3, in the Men -77kg elimination round of 32.
Mark Constance Vergel bowed to Mongolia’s Shinezorig Bulgankhuu, 0-2, in the Men -77kg elimination round of 32.
Romeo John Alfred Raphael Arellano fell to United Arab Emirates’ Amaar Alhosani, 0-2, in the repachage.
“Sobrang laking bagay. Siyempre, Asian Games siya. Every four years lang merong Asian Games,” said Napolis. “We’re a bit sad, of course, dun sa mga hindi nag-medal. But I’m super thankful pa rin sa support. Lalo na sa PSC, POC, and sa federation namin.”
Four more Filipinos – Vito Luisa Luzuriaga (men -85kg), Andrea Lois Lao (women -63kg), David Miranda (-85), and Alenxandria Luz Enriquez (-63kg) – will try to get a medal on the last day of the competition on Saturday.
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