Kimberly Custodio (left) wins gold in the JJIF Jiu-Jitsu World Championship. –SCREENGRAB
MANILA, Philippines–Kimberly Anne Custodio clinched the gold medal in the 2022 JJIF Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday.
Custodio ruled the women’s -45 kilogram division, defeating Kacie Pechrada Tan of Thailand, 6-4, in the thrilling final.
Bursting into tears after wresting the gold, Custodio immediately went to her teammates cheering for her in the stands.
Custodio dominated Sakaew Tadaporn in the semifinal, 14-0, after bundling out hometown bet Hamdah Al Shkeili, 14-0, in the quarterfinal.
Tadaporn and Shkeili brought home the bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Philip Cristopher Alegre and Ashley Jeraine Baluyot failed to advance in the men’s -77kg and women’s -52kg divisions, respectively. Celest Flores-Colina