By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China — From pain to glory.
That’s what exactly Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belter Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa suffered but endured on the way to achieving her ultimate dream – winning her first ever gold medal in the Asian Games here.
But in doing so, she learned a valuable lesson that is to be totally healthy – physically and mentally – before going to the war zone as she once again shrugged off questions of retirement from the sport that she embraced like a religion.
“I have to take care of my health in my future tournaments. Don’t want to struggle again just like what happened to me going to this match,” Ochoa said in between sobs after reigning surpreme in the women’s -48-kilogram final.
Three days before the big moment, Ochoa, 33, was battling flu symptoms, saying: “May trangkaso ako the past three days, di ko alam kung anong mangyayari sa akin.”
Good thing, the medicines she took worked wonders that she was able to compete.
One problem solved. Then came the hip injury.
A proud member of the Fight to Protect movement, an organization that fights against child abuse, Ochoa launched her gold medal bid by outsmarting Mongolian Odgerel Batbayar by submission.
After beating Kazakhstan’s Nazgul Rakhayena in the quarters, she encountered a stiff opposition from Thai hai Kacie Pechrada Tan in a semis match that saw her suffer a hip injury.
Hurting and all, she refused to raise the white flag, saying: “Kahit hindi ako na ako makalakad after the match, gagawin ko ang best ko para manalo.”
True enough, she was able to summon enough courage and beat Abdulla Alqees of the United Arab Emirates in the final via 1-0 advantage to fulfill her cherished dream.
“Overwhelmed ako sa panalong ito, ibang klase to,” said Ochoa as she bettered her bronze medal achievement in the 2018 Jakarta edition.
Before she defends her title in AIMAG (Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games) next year, Ochoa said she will make sure that she is in perfect health condition.
