CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Jiujitsu specialist Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa again conquered the world stage with a gold medal in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiujitsu World Tour held in London.
The 27-year-old world champion forced Fransisca Nelson of Indonesia to call it quits with a paralyzing choke to rule the women’s -49kg purple belt division Monday at the Copper Box Arena, a multi-sport venue used for the 2012 London Olympics.
On her way to the title, Ochoa defeated Luna Barea of Spain on points to set a fierce showdown finale opposite Nelson, who toppled eventual bronze medalist Shouq Aldhanhani of United Arab Emirates in the semifinals.
“I just talk to God on every fight and He was the one who fought for me out there,” said Ochoa, an Under Armour endorser and three-time jiujitsu world champion.
She also expressed gratitude to Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez and Philippine Sports Institute national training director Marc Velasco for supporting her London trip.
Ochoa, competing in the women’s Newaza -45kg category, delivered one of the two gold medals the Philippine captured in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Annie Ramirez, who accounted for the other gold in Turkmenistan, wasn’t as successful as Ochoa in London over the weekend.
Ramirez fought in the finals of the women’s 62kg purple belt division and lost to Caroline Prill of Ireland while Kaila Napolis also took home a silver after Elina Moestam of Sweden defeated her in the gold-medal match of the women’s 55kg category.
Ochoa and Ramirez are tipped to win the gold in the forthcoming Asian Games in Indonesia.
They will also compete in the Abu Dhabi World Pro next month, European Jiujitsu Championships in June and the Thailand Open on June 16.