FORMER UST judoka Annie Ramirez became the second Thomasian to capture gold for the Philippines in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, after ruling the -57kg division of the women’s jiu-jitsu event.
Ramirez secured the gold medal by defeating Kazakhstan’s Galina Duvanova, 2-0, in the finals at the XSL Gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 6, joining gold medalist pole vaulter EJ Obiena as Thomasians who have earned gold for the Philippines.
This marked the third gold medal of the Philippines in the Asian Games.
The former UAAP Season 73 and Season 77 women’s judo Most Valuable Player clinched gold after securing two points in the final 30 seconds of the match.
Ramirez, who stopped schooling in her second year under UST’s Sports and Wellness Management program to focus on her sports career, went unbeaten in her three matches in the tournament.
She progressed to the quarterfinals by defeating Vietnam’s Thi Thuong Le and then achieved an impressive 7-0 victory over Singapore’s Fiona Toh. In the semifinals, the former UST judoka secured a dominant win by submitting UAE’s Shamsa Alameri via armbar.
Obiena delivered the first gold medal for the Philippines after clearing 5.70 meters and setting a new Asian Games record of 5.90 meters in the men’s pole vault event last Saturday.
Meggie Ochoa, Ramirez’s teammate, earned the second gold medal of the Philippines when she topped UAE’s Balqees Abdulla, 1-0, in the final of the women’s -48kg division on Thursday.
Last night, Gilas Pilipinas won the country’s fourth gold medal by defeating Jordan in the finals with a score of 70-60.
The Philippines has now tallied four gold, two silver, and 12 bronze medals in the Asian Games. The continental multisports event will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 8. Brenn Allen L. Flores
