Kaila Napolis of the Philippines locks up Cambodia’s Jessa Khan. TEAM PHILIPPINES PHOTO
Kaila Napolis waited for lengthy to grapple with Jessa Khan once more after an agonizing night time again within the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Video games.
“Getting again at her took a very long time and I used to be actually motivated to win,’’ mentioned Napolis on Thursday.
A day earlier than the Philippines makes historical past by marching solely feminine athletes within the opening ceremonies of the thirty second SEA Video games, it was a lady who delivered the nation’s first gold.
And later within the day, one other lady delivered the nation’s second.
Napolis took the gold within the ladies’s “Ne-waza” 52-kilogram division of jiujitsu—and he or she redeemed herself after a painful loss 4 years in the past, beating an athlete who is taken into account one of many world’s greatest in entrance of her supportive dwelling followers.
And it was a becoming revenge: Napolis misplaced to Khan in 2019, when Manila hosted the SEA Video games.
“I can nonetheless do not forget that loss at dwelling [in 2019]. To win towards her (Khan) right here in Cambodia is overwhelming,’’ mentioned Napolis, teary-eyed for redeeming herself from that heart-breaker 4 years in the past within the ladies’s 49-kg golden match.
“I promised myself that I can’t let the chance move as soon as I get the prospect,’’ mentioned Napolis.
Later within the day, Angel Gwen Derla delivered a second gold medal for the Philippines within the ladies’s bamboo defend type of “kun bokator.”
The 19-year-old from Cabuyao, Laguna province, briefly shifted from “pencak silat” and tried her hand within the Cambodian indigenous sport, seizing the win with 8.5 factors to frustrate the host nation’s guess on the Chroy Changvar Corridor.
Cambodia’s Chanchhorvy Puth (8.47) settled for the silver after her almost two-minute routine and Deslya Anggraini of Indonesia positioned third (8.42) to achieve the rostrum.
A tribute
Angel Gwen Derla wins the Philippines’ second gold within the SEA Video games 2023. –JUNE NAVARRO
“I actually needed to characterize our nation by competing right here within the SEA Video games. Via sheer arduous work, I used to be in a position to ship even if I solely skilled for 2 months,’’ mentioned Derla.
The Philippines will discipline an all-female solid of athletes for the opening parade, with Philippine Olympic Committee chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino reaching the choice as a solution to honor the latest rise of the nation’s sportswomen.
“This can be a first time—a tribute to ladies athletes and to the gender equality program of the Worldwide Olympic Committee,” mentioned Tolentino, who shall be considered one of solely two males who will be part of the parade moreover chef de mission Chito Loyzaga.
And the early wins of the delegation validated Tolentino’s resolution.
“One huge congratulations for considered one of our feminine athletes breaking the ice for Crew Philippines in these SEA Video games,” he mentioned.
The 22-year-old Napolis, from Muntinlupa Metropolis, swept Khan from beneath and transitioned to a dominant place that earned her two factors close to the tip of their match.
Khan is the 2018 Asian Video games champion within the 49 kg and not too long ago claimed a bronze medal within the European Championship held in Paris, France.
The 21-year-old Cambodian-Mexican is a jiujitsu star within the international circuit, having received the sunshine featherweight title within the prestigious Worldwide Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Santa Cruz Worldwide Open two weeks in the past.
“She’s (Khan) well-known right here and he or she’s the most effective on the earth. It feels good to reverse my place [against her],’’ mentioned Napolis.
Khan tried to keep away from the sweep and went for the legs of Napolis with a knee bar, however the assault was too shallow, permitting the Filipino to stand up and earn the 2 factors.
Again of their 2019 faceoff, Khan received by a bonus level in entrance of a supportive Napolis crowd.
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