JAKARTA -- After winning the bronze medal in men's BMX of cycling in the 18th Asian Games, the Philippines failed to reach the medal round in the Ju-jitsu and karate competitions on Saturday.
Asian champions Annie Ramirez and Apryl Jessica Eppinger were eliminated in the first round of Ju-jitsu’s Newaza Women's -62kgs category at the Jakarta Convention Center Assembly Hall.
Ramirez, who won the 55kg gold in 2017 Asian Championships in Vietnam, bowed to Kira Sung of South Korea in the round-of-16, 0-21.
“I am so sorry po kasi talagang mas mabigat siya sa akin (I am sorry because she's heavier than me),” said the 28-year-old Ramirez, a gold winner in the -55kg class at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.
“Nahirapan po ako gumalaw dahil hindi ko po kasi talaga weight class ang 62kg Pinilit ko lang po kasi iyun lang ang category para sa mga babae dito sa Asian Games (I had difficulty moving because 62kg is not my weight class. I was forced to compete because it's the only category for women here in the Asian Games),” said Ramirez, a Physical Education graduate at the University of Santo Tomas.
The Filipino-Australian Eppinger absorbed a 0-3 loss to Onanong Sangsirichok of Thailand, the reigning Asian champion, who is a veteran of world championships.
“It is really a different level here in the Asian Games. We were surprised that our rivals stepped up and improved a lot," said Eppinger.
Carlos Peña hurdled his round-of-16 match against Calvin Chua of Singapore, 10-0, in the Newaza men's 62kg category. However, he was sent packing by world and Asian champion Darkhan Nortayev of Kazakhstan, 0-2, in the quarterfinals.
In karatedo, Orencio James Virgil Delos Santos lost to Kin Hang Kuok of Macau, 0-5, in the quarterfinals of the men's kata competition at the Jakarta Convention Center Plenery Hall.
In pencak silat, Cherry Mae Regalado had a total of 447 points and tied Thi Binh Vuong for second place in the women's singles preliminary Group A.
Tunee Vilaysack of Laos had the best score of 455 points, while Norshahirah Ratius of Malaysia had 440 points.
Puspa Arumsari topped Group B with 465 points followed by Salini Mamu of Thailand (459), Nurzuhairah Mohammad Yazid of Malaysia (441) and Norlayermah Haji Raya of Brunei (437).
The final of the women's singles, men's doubles and men's team events will be played on Monday.
Precious Jade Borre, meanwhile, lost her quarterfinal match against Thi Loan Hoang of Vietnam, 0-5, in the women's Class C 55kg to 60kg category.
The Philippines was assured of two bronze medals in pencak silat when Dines Dumaan and Jefferson Rhey Loon won their quarterfinal matches on Friday.
Dumaan will face Muhammad Faizul M. Nasir while Loon will meet Ngoc Toan Nguyen of Vietnam in the semifinal round on Sunday. (PNA)
