By MARK REY MONTEJO
Veteran Kimberly Anne Custodio stamped her class and claimed the gold medal in the adult female -45kg category of the 2024 JJIF World Championship Friday, Oct. 25, in Heraklion, Greece.
Custodio, 37, didn’t let her much younger rival in UAE’s Balqees Abdoh Abdulla to shine as the Filipina went to work early and give the Philippines its first gold in the five-day long tournament.
In advancing to the finals. the Ilongga grappler also turned back Turkmenistan’s Hurma Abdyyeva and UAE’s Alshamsi Aysha.
It also marked Custodio’s second gold in the competition.
In the same class, her fellow Filipina Daniela Palanca took home bronze after succumbing to Balqees.
Meanwhile, Jollirine Co settled for silver in the adult female -48kg event where Asian Games champion and top seed Meggie Ochoa fell into the wayside.
Ochoa eventually finished 7th.
Kaila Napolis was also not fortunate, finishing only fifth in the women’s -52kg division.
