Jiu-jitsu squad bags eight medals

The Philippine jiu-jitsu team collected eight medals in the ninth Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships at the Regency Palace Amman Hotel in Jordan from 23 to 26 May.

Asian Games champion Annie Ramirez ruled the women’s -57-kilogram division after beating Galina Duvonova of Kazakhstan in the final.

The Asian Championship is part of Ramirez’s preparation for the World Games in Chengdu, China from 7 to 17 August.

In the women’s -70kg division, Dylan Chrystle Valmorez settled for silver after getting beaten by Thi Tranh Truc Nguyen of Vietnam.

Kaila Napoils also clinched a silver after she lost to Im Eon Ju of South Korea in the women’s -52kg division.

Picking up bronze medals for the Filipinos are Santino Luzurriaga (men’s -62kg), Carlo Peña (men’s -56kg), Kim Custodio (women’s -45kg), Joanne Tan (women’s -70kg), and Baby Jhen Buzon (women’s -52kg).

The Philippines finished in 13th place overall in the 20-nation tournament with a 1-2-5 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.

Ramirez’s gold medal finish boosted the Filipino grapplers’ morale after their 0-1-6 medal tally last year.