HANGZHOU, China — For a while, Meggie Ochoa doubted her ability to win.

But she kept the faith and worked hard until she finally struck the country's second gold medal in the jiu-jitsu competition of the 19th Asian Games on Thursday at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium in this bustling metropolis.

The 29-year-old Ochoa essayed a masterful victory over Balqees Abdulla of the United Arab Emirates in the final of the women's -48-kilogram match to claim her first Asian Games crown.

It was a sweet victory for Ochoa, who was able to beat the younger Abulla after keeping a dominant position early until hammering a mount in the 4:32 mark of battle for the gold medal.

Prior to that, she defeated a stellar cast of foes like Odgerel Batbayar of Mongolia, Nazgul Rakhayeva of Kazakhstan and Pechrada Tan of Thailand to set up a finale with the 19-year-old Abdulla.

It was the country's second gold medal since EJ Obiena soared to a record-breaking 5.90 meters in the men's pole vault event last week.

Team Philippines still has a chance to pocket their third bronze medal as Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial is still battling hometown favorite Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke of China in the gold medal match of the men's 80-kilogram boxing event at press time.

But what made Ochoa's win sweeter was the fact that she completed it despite all the anxiety, sickness and injuries she went through leading to the gold medal match.

"This is different. I went through a lot. My struggles make the victory even sweeter," said Ochoa, who atoned for her bronze-medal performance in the previous Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018.

"This is so overwhelming because a lot has happened here. Until last night, I had a fever. I thought I couldn't make it. Until today, I took a lot of medicines just to feel better. Then, during the semifinals, I suffered a hip injury. It was painful."

"But I told myself that I will do everything to win. I will give my all just to get this gold."