Asian Video games – Hangzhou 2022 – Ju-jitsu – Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium JJI, Hangzhou, China – October 5, 2023 Gold medallist Philippines’ Margarita Ochoa poses throughout the medal ceremony for the Girls’s 48Kg REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
HANGZHOU, China–Fingers down essentially the most adorned Filipino in her sport, no quantity of hurt can pressure Meggie Ochoa to give up.
However after hanging gold within the nineteenth Asian Video games right here, the seasoned grappler takes a step again from the mat to ponder on her athletic future.
“For now, I might slightly pay extra consideration to my restoration earlier than I consider any competitions throughout the 12 months,’’ stated Ochoa, who subdued present world champion Balqees Abdulla of the United Arab Emirates within the -48kg last of ladies’s jiu jitsu on Thursday that gifted the Philippines its second gold medal.
It was a win carved out of sheer will, having been fever-stricken within the final three days. And never solely that, Ochoa continues to be recovering from a meniscus tear in her left knee sustained throughout the Cambodia Southeast Asian Video games early this 12 months the place the two-time champion settled for a silver medal.
Ochoa got here to this metropolis referred to as China’s e-commerce and synthetic intelligence hub with a fever that by no means went away. That’s why she was so emotional when she was declared the winner by benefit.
“There have been too many obstacles even earlier than I got here right here. It solely grew to become worse after I bought sick,” Ochoa, tears working down her cheeks, stated. “However I saved the religion and instructed myself to only do my greatest to win.
The 33-year-old, a two-time world champion in 2018 Sweden and final 12 months in Abu Dhabi, subdued Mongolia’s Odgerel Batbayar within the round-of-16 after which submitted Kazakhstan’s Nazgul Rakhayeva within the quarterfinal on the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium.
Then the problem grew bigger after hurting her hip earlier than tripping Thailand’s Pechrada Kacie Tan, 4-2, within the semifinals.
All of the piercing ache went away when the referee raised Ochoa’s hand within the gold medal match in opposition to the 19-year-old Abdulla.
“What I had gone by means of was completely different. I went by means of a number of challenges, however these struggles solely made victory sweeter,’’ stated Ochoa.
Because the third man within the mat signaled the beginning of their match, Ochoa clinched and instantly despatched Abdulla to the bottom.
Repeatedly making an attempt to extricate herself from Ochoa’s tight grip, Abdulla was overwhelmed by the Filipino for practically three minutes till the clock expired.
“I can really feel ache (in my hip), however I nonetheless must verify if there’s an harm,’’ stated Ochoa, whose victory upped Group Philippines medal complete to 2 gold, one silver and 9 bronze medals general.
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“My prayers bought answered. This victory is completely different from the remaining as a result of right here, I characterize our nation,’’ stated Ochoa.
“This one is for our nation. I hope my teammates win extra medals,’’ stated Ochoa.