Ju-jitsu fighters launch gold medal drive

JAKARTA – After a grand debut in the 2016 Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam, the Filipino ju-jitsu fighters look to the do the same in the initial showcase of the sport in the 18th Asian Games starting with three gold medals being disputed today at the Jakarta Convention Center here.

Danang Games gold medal winners Annie Ramirez and Margarita Ochoa lead a high-powered Phl cast that includes six others with podium finishes in Asian championships in the last two years.

Unable to make a podium finish in cycling in the 2014 Guangzhou Asiad, Apryl Jessica Eppinger has shifted to ju-jitsu, and she’s among the bright hopes with a gold-medal feat in the Asian meet in Hanoi last year.

Jan Vincent Cortez, Gian Taylor Dee, Marc Alexander Lim, Adrian Rodolfo Erwin Guggenheim and Jenna Kaila Napolis are the other touted bets with their consistent top showings in the Asian meets in Aktou, Kazakhstan last year and in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan early this year.

Not to be ruled out are the chances of Eros Vincent Baluyot and Erwin John Tagle.

“Watch out for this Phl ju-jitsu team. They’ve been working hard. They’ve been winning medals in many international meets. I believe they can deliver in the Asian Games,” said Rod Franco, president of NLEX which backs the ju-jitsu team.

Franco was here along with the other members of the PBA board of governors during the early days of the meet. They were in the gallery during the Phl-Kazakhstan basketball match and also on hand to witness the Asian Games opening ceremonies at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Stadium Saturday.

Franco is convinced all Filipino ju-jitsu bets have a fighting chance to win a medal.

In the last Asian Beach Games, the Philippines entered 11 ju-jitsu fighters, with five delivering medals.  Ochoa ruled the women’s newaza -45kg, Ramirez reigned in women’s newaza -55kg, Dee placed second in men’s newaza -62kg, while Napolis and Eppinger won the bronze medals in -55kg and -62 kg.

Eppinger, a Fil-Australia athlete, has previously competed in Indonesia as a cyclist in the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang.

Then 26, Eppinger won the silver medals in 500m time trial and in sprint and the bronze in scratch.

Fast forward now, Eppinger wants to medal as a fighter.

Ramirez, meanwhile, used to be a national judo campaigner.