By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Jiu Jitsu team collected three silver and one bronze medals in the 2024 Thailand Grand Prix Open in Bangkok over the weekend.
World Combat Games champion Kaila Napolis spearheaded the Filipinos’ charge and captured the silver medal in the women’s -52kg. She lost to loss to South Korea’s Im Eon Ju in the final.
Also bagging the silver medal were Dyland Valmores in the women’s adult +70kg and Andrea Lao in the women’s adult -63kg.
Valmores bowed to Thi Thanh Truc Nguyen of Vietnam, while Lao succumbed to Sung Ki Ra of South Korea.
Two-time world champion Meggie Ochoa, meanwhile, shared the bronze medal with United Arab Emirates Shraim Maitha in the women’s adult -48kg that was won by South Korea’s Kim Na Hyun.
Other Filipinos also competed in the tournament with 2022 Asian Games champion Annie Ramirez crashing out in the women’s adult -63kg.
Anna Angelica Mitra also came close to a podium finish but lost to Indonesia’s Julia Simone for a spot in the women’s -70kg semis.
The rest of the PH team who competed but lost in their matches were eleicha Malilay in the women’s adult -45kg, Gliza Bea Jacinto in women’s -48kg, Ashkey Baluyot in women’s -52kg, Christopher Cortez in men’s adult +94kg, Rajae Dwight Del Rosario in men’s adult -62kg, Engene Stoner Dagohoy and Kristan John Anonuevo in men’s adult -85kg, and Ramon Nabong III in men’s adult -94kg.
