Annie Ramirez captures Philippines’ third gold in Asian Games
Annie Ramirez reacts after winning the gold in women’s jiu-jitsu in the Asian Games. –POC POOL
HANGZHOU, China—Stepping out of the mat in abrasive defeat during the 2018 Asian Games cut a deep wound that left Annie Ramirez sleepless for many nights.
Ramirez removed that ugly scar for good on Thursday by fending off Kazakhstan’s Galina Duvanova in their 57kg gold-medal collision in women’s jiujitsu at the 19th Asian Games.
“I felt really bad after losing in the previous Asian Games that I just couldn’t wait to recover from that defeat. Winning the gold here is sweet redemption for me,’’ said Ramirez in Filipino.
The three-time Asian champion stayed underneath Duvanova for most of the contest before reversing the trend with less than 30 seconds remaining by scoring a sweep.
It was all Ramirez needed to win her third encounter against the tall and charming Kazakh out of four meetings.
“She was on top most of the time, but that’s okay. I just waited for the right opportunity to strike,’’ said the veteran grappler who bowed out in the first round of the 2018 Asiad.
Annie Ramirez during the the gold medal match in women’s jiu-jitsu in the Asian Games. –POC POOL
Ramirez’s gold is the third for Team Philippines as she joined fellow jujitsu grappler Meggie Ochoa, who early ruled the women’s -48kg division, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena atop the podium.
Boxer Eumir Marcial and sanda warrior Arnel Mandal accounted for the two silvers while the nation’s men’s regu team added another third-place output in sepak takraw for a total of 12 bronzes.
“This is the only medal that’s lacking in my collection. I’ve been thinking about this almost everyday since that (Asiad) defeat,’’ said the 32-year-old Ramirez.
She first burst into the limelight during the 2017 Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan when Ramirez and Ochoa pocketed the two golds that the country brought home.
Ramirez, who blossomed in her sport under the tutelage of Southeast Asian Games judo icon John Baylon, began her journey by defeating Vietnam’s Thi Thuong Le by advantage in the round of 16.
The three-time SEA Games gold medalist then toppled Singapore’s Fiona Toh, 7-0, in the quarterfinal and downed UAE’s Shamsa Alameri by submission in the semis prior to meeting a familiar foe in Duvanova.
