THE Philippines collected one gold medal courtesy of Meggie Ochoa in the 3rd Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union (JJAU) Asian Championship in Aqtau, Kazakhstan.
Ochoa beat compatriot Kaila Napolis for the gold in the Ne-Waza women’s senior -49kg division.
Ochoa is primed to be a top prospect of the Philippines in the Asian Games as jiu-jitsu will make its debut in the quadrennial meet.
Aside from Napolis, also winning the silver for the Philippines are Jan Cortez (Ne-Waza men’s senior -56kg) and Marc Lim (Ne-Waza men’s senior -69kg).
Carlo Pena (Ne-Waza men’s senior -62kg), Annie Ramirez (Ne-Waza women’s senior -62kg), and Hansel Co (Ne-Waza men’s senior -77kg) claimed bronze in the competition.
Ochoa beat Deepudsa Siramol of Thailand, and overcame Alkhatib Yasmeen of Jordan prior to the finals.