Napolis grabs bronze in jiu-jitsu

NAGOYA — Kaila Napolis provided the silver lining for the Philippines in jiu jitsu after she bagged the bronze medal in women’s -52kg in the 20th Asian Games on Friday at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.

She defeated Mongolia’s Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, as her win sealed the country’s only medal for jiu-jitsu in Day 2 of the competition.

“Well, bronze medal, it’s still an honor 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,” she said.

Napolis, who had to go through the repachage, dominated the match to secure the bronze via a 2-0 victory for the team supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Well, I was very disappointed during my second match. So, I really wanted to make up by taking the bronze and I am thankful that I did it.”

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.

“We’re a bit sad, of course, for those who didn’t medal but we are thankful for the support most especially to the PSC. POC and to our (national) federation,” Napolis added.

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.