SANYA, China — US-based martial artist Alexandria Luz Enriquez made history for the Philippines by clinching the country’s first gold medal at the 6th Asian Beach Games on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Enriquez dominated the women’s jiu-jitsu ne-waza 63kg division, capping a stellar debut performance in a multi-sport event representing the Philippines.
Enriquez secured the gold with a decisive 5-0 victory over Yeonji Lee of South Korea in the final held at the Sanya Bay Yuhai Club.
The 27-year-old Enriquez, who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States at the age of six, displayed technical precision throughout the opening day of the jiu-jitsu competition.
- Early Rounds: She began her campaign with back-to-back submission victories against opponents from host country China and Thailand.
- Semifinals: Enriquez faced a tougher challenge in the semifinals, ultimately advancing to the gold medal match via an “advantage” win over Shamma Al Kalbani of the United Arab Emirates.
- The Final: In the championship match, Enriquez controlled the pace against Lee, securing the 5-0 scoreline that handed the Philippines its sixth all-time gold medal in the history of the Asian Beach Games.
Following her win, an elated Enriquez expressed deep pride in returning to her roots to compete for the national team.
“I feel so much pride and joy. I was born in the Philippines… and to be able to come back and experience it as an adult and to be a part of something much larger than I am is such a great honor,” Enriquez said.
Enriquez’s gold was the highlight of a productive first day for the Philippine jiu-jitsu team:
- Kaila Napolis (Bronze): The veteran grappler secured the country’s very first medal of the Sanya Games earlier in the day. Napolis defeated Kazakhstan’s Zhibek Kulumbetova in a sudden-death overtime period to repeat her bronze-medal feat from the 2016 Games.
- Andrea Lois Lao: Lao reached the medal rounds but narrowly missed out on a podium finish after falling 3-0 in her bronze medal match against Thailand’s Orapa Senatham.
- Other Competitors: Team members Myron Mangubat, Maria Ysabel Laureta, and Santino Luis Luzuriaga were eliminated in the early rounds of their respective divisions.
Chef de Mission Don Z. Caringal lauded Enriquez’s performance, noting that it sets a high benchmark for Filipino athletes as the country prepares to host the next edition of the Games in 2028.
“Alexandria showed the heart of a true Filipino warrior today. To win gold here in Sanya against the best in the continent is a proud moment for the entire nation,” Caringal stated.
The Philippine delegation, consisting of 101 athletes across various sports, looks to build on this early momentum as competitions in beach handball, aquathlon, and other events continue.