Annie Ramirez wins third straight SEA Games gold medal in jiu-jitsu

FILE – Filipino Jiu-jitsu fight Annie Ramirez wins another SEA Games gold medal. –ANNE RAMIREZ PHOTO

PHNOM PENH—Jiu-jitsu grappler Annie Ramirez submitted Vietnam’s Thi Thuong Le via knee bar to rule the women’s ne-waza nogi -57kg on Saturday at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

It was the third gold medal for Ramirez in these Games, having won it also in the 2019 edition in Manila while boosting the national jiu-jitsu team’s medal collection to two golds and a pair of bronzes.

“I will participate in all the big events this year, including the Asian Games. I can’t do anything but to train hard for these events,’’ said the 32-year-old Ramirez, a former judo grappler before making a shift to the sport where she was the Asian Beach Games champion in 2014.

Kaila Napolis struck the first gold in jiu-jitsu after frustrating Cambodian-Mexican Jessa Khan in the women’s 52kg class on Thursday.

“The only thing I will ask for (from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee) is to support us in these tournaments,’’ said Ramirez.

Meggie Ochoa, also a multiple gold performer in the SEA Games, will take the mat on Sunday to defend her 49kg title.

WATCH: Jiujitsu fighter Annie Ramirez submitted Vietnam's Thi Thuong Le via knee bar to win the gold in the women's ne-waza nogi – 57kg at the #SEAGames2023 | @junavINQ pic.twitter.com/ZXWhwYPNMl

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Inquirer’s special coverage of the Cambodia SEA Games 2023.