SILVER LINING: Enriquez narrowly misses jiu-jitsu gold

Team Philippines’ bid for a fifth gold medal fell short as Alex Enriquez settled for silver in the women’s -63kg jiu-jitsu competition at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

Enriquez, 27, reached the final in her Asiad debut and appeared poised to give the Philippines another shot at the elusive fifth gold a day after unheralded Jeus Yape delivered the country’s fourth in mixed virtual taekwondo.

But the Filipino-American grappler lost to Orapa Senatham of Thailand at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall, settling for silver.

Despite the setback, Enriquez said she had no regrets after giving everything she had on the mat.

“I’m sorry. It’s so close, but it just came up short. I lost by an advantage, and I feel like I was really trying my best to push the action, hoping maybe she would get called for stalling or a negative for constantly backing up. But that’s the name of the game,” said Enriquez, who won gold at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, last April.

“But I’m still proud and happy with my performance. I gave it my all, so there are no regrets.”

Enriquez was the Philippines’ lone medalist on the penultimate day of competition, leaving the country in 17th place with four golds, nine silvers and 16 bronzes for 29 medals as of 7 p.m. (Manila time).

While the Philippines fell short of its target of five golds, its overall medal haul surpassed its 4-2-12 finish at the Hangzhou Asiad in 2023.

China remained atop the standings with 167 golds, 89 silvers and 81 bronzes, followed by hosts Japan with 80 golds, 90 silvers and 90 bronzes. South Korea was third with 37 golds, 43 silvers and 67 bronzes.

Several other Filipino athletes came up short in their respective medal bids.

In padel, Danna Abad and Joshea Malazarte lost to Indonesia’s Novela Putria and Beatrice Gumulya, 0-6, 0-6, in the women’s pairs bronze-medal match at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center.

The Blu Girls also settled for fourth after suffering a 2-12 loss to Chinese Taipei in the women’s softball bronze-medal game at the Anjo Softball Ground.

Baby Jessica Canabal reached the quarterfinals of the women’s -57kg taekwondo event before losing to eventual champion Fadia Khirfan of Jordan at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.

At the Kasugai Country Club East Course, Rianne Malixi was the Philippines’ top finisher in women’s golf after tying for fifth with Liu Yan of China and Arpichaya Yubol of Thailand in the individual stroke play.

The Filipinas finished eighth in the team event.

Justin de los Santos was the Philippines’ best finisher in men’s golf, tying for 15th with Indonesia’s Jonathan Winojo, while the men’s team placed ninth.