Alexandria Enriquez delivered the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 6th Asian Beach Games after dominating South Korea’s Yeonji Lee, 5-0, in the women’s 63kg jiu-jitsu final on Thursday at the Sanya Bay Yuhai Club in Sanya, China.
The US-based Filipina impressed in her debut for Team Philippines in a multi-sport event, capping a strong campaign with a decisive victory in the final.
Enriquez opened her run with back-to-back submission wins over opponents from host China and Thailand. She then advanced to the gold medal match after edging Shamma Alkalbani via advantage in the semifinals.
She expressed pride in delivering the country’s first gold medal in the Games’ return after a decade-long hiatus.
“I feel so much pride and joy I mean first of all all glory to God and and I grew I was born in the Philippines we immigrated to the states when I was a very young child six years old and to be able to come back you know and experience it as an adult and to be able to be a part of something much larger than I am is such a great honor,” she said.
Earlier, Kaila Napolis secured the Philippines’ first medal of the meet by winning the bronze against Kazakhstan’s Zhibek Kulumbetova in overtime.
The match extended beyond regulation after both fighters were tied at the end of five minutes. Napolis managed to gain an advantage during the sudden death period, replicating her podium finish from the 2016 edition of the Games.
“Sobrang nakakakaba. Kasi bawal magkamali. With overtime, the first to have an advantage na yung mananalo. So, super tight talaga ng laban,” said Napolis.
Andrea Lois Lao, another Filipina who reached the medal rounds, fell short of adding to the tally after losing to Thailand’s Orapa Senatham, 3-0, in the bronze medal match.
Meanwhile, Myron Mangubat, Maria Ysabel Laureta, and Santino Luis Luzuriaga bowed out in the first round of their respective divisions. (AC)
The post Alexandria Enriquez bags Team PH’s first gold in Asian Beach Games first appeared on Fastbreak.
