SANYA, China — Annie Ramirez further cemented her legacy as Asia’s grappling queen, securing her third consecutive Asian Beach Games gold medal on Friday after defeating compatriot Emily Thomas in a rare and historic all-Filipino final.
The victory in the women’s -57kg jiu-jitsu division marked a “golden hat trick” for the 35-year-old veteran, who previously topped the podium in the 2014 (Phuket) and 2016 (Da Nang) editions of the games.
The highly anticipated final was nearly derailed by nature. A heavy two-hour downpour at the Sanya Bay Yuhai Club flooded the outdoor sand mats, rendering the original beach venue unusable. After a five-hour delay, organizers moved the bout to an indoor facility at the Athletes’ Village.
In the tightly contested match, Ramirez relied on her veteran poise to edge out the younger Thomas via advantage after the full five-minute regulation ended in a deadlock.
“It’s a big relief that Emily and I were able to close out the division,” Ramirez said. “Knowing that the gold and silver were already secured for the Philippines helped ease the anxiety from the rain delay and the venue change.”
The two Filipinas dominated their respective brackets to set up the civil war:
- Ramirez survived a grueling semifinal against Mongolia’s Shurentsetseg Ehnkhmunkh, winning 5-2.
- Thomas, making her national team debut, booked her finals ticket with a narrow 4-2 victory over Shamsa Alameri of the United Arab Emirates.
Ramirez’s triumph was the centerpiece of a prolific day for the Philippine delegation in Sanya. Earlier in the day, Leonard Grospe delivered the country’s second gold of the day with a stunning performance in the men’s high jump.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who witnessed the all-Filipino final, praised the duo’s resilience. “Annie remains the queen of this mat, but Emily’s performance shows that the future of Philippine jiu-jitsu is in great hands. Seeing two Filipinas fight for gold on the continental stage is a proud moment for our country.”
With this win, the Philippines’ jiu-jitsu team concludes its campaign with an impressive haul of two golds, one silver, and one bronze, significantly boosting the nation’s standing in the overall medal tally.