Napolis pulls out hard-earned podium finish in jiujitsu

Team Philippines’ Kaila Napolis in action during the Asian Games 2026 women’s jiu jitsu competition. –POC MEDIA POOL

NAGOYA—Kaila Napolis on Friday made sure Team Philippines will have something to show in jiujitsu after bagging bronze with a courageous win over Mongolia’s Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, in the women’s -52-kilogram bracket in the 20th Asian Games at Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.

It was the consolation prize that soothed the Filipinos’ campaign in the sport after former world champion Annie Ramirez, the 2023 Hangzhou gold medalist, had exited in the round of 16 after losing to Thailand’s Nuchanat Singchalad.

“It’s an honor to win bronze in a big competition like the Asian Games,” Napolis said with a mix of Filipino after claiming the scalp of Altangerel since it was also a Mongolian who took her out of advancing to the gold medal match.

“I really wanted to make up for it. I was really disappointed,” Napolis said, referring to a 3-2 loss to Mongoljin Gabaatar in the quarterfinals that put her in the repechage. “I really wanted to give it my all. Thankfully, I pulled it off.

“Bronze medal is still a big honor.”

Meanwhile, Olympian Kiyomi Watanabe tumbled out in the round of 16 of the women’s -78 kilograms in judo after bowing to Ekaterina Tokareva of Kazakhstan as two other Filipino bets followed her to the showers.

Watanabe bows out early

Moving up to a heavier division, Watanabe engaged in a tight grip battle early on, with both athletes receiving a Shido penalty at the 0:46 mark.

Chino Sy Tancontian suffered a similar fate, succumbing to Japan’s Ryotaro Masuchi in the men’s -100-kilogram round-of -16 action after the home bet registered a Yuko just 12 seconds into the bout.

Also out of contention is Eskelen Kedo, who bowed to the United Arab Emirates’ Magomedomar Magomedomarov via Ippon in the men’s +100-kilogram round of 16.

Ramirez, the -57-kilogram champion in China three years ago, followed Luigi Dy to the exit after Dy took a 3-0 loss to Mongolia’s Davaadorj Munkhtur in the men’s -77-kilogram round of 32.

Two other Filipino men, Mark Constance Vergel and Romeo John Alfred Raphael Arellano, took 2-0 losses to Mongolia’s Shinezorig Bulgankhuu (-77 kilograms) and UAE’s Amaar Alhosani (-94 kilograms), respectively.

“This is a big thing, because the Asian Games come just once every four years,” Napolis said. “That’s why we’re sad for the others who failed to land medals.”

Four more Filipinos—Vito Luis Luzuriaga (men’s -85 kilograms), Andrea Lois Lao (women’s -63 kilograms), David Miranda (men’s -85 kilograms) and Alexandria Luz Enriquez (women’s -63 kilograms)—will try to get a medal on the last day of the competition on Saturday. —INQUIRER SPORTS DESK