GOLDEN DEBUT
Filipino-Japanese Takahashi relishes SEA Games glory
UNASSUMING 16-yearold Filipino-Japanese Mariya Takahashi relishes her moment of glory after stunning five-time champion Surattana Thongsri of Thailand that earned her a 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal in women's -70 kilogram division Sunday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Malaysia.
Takahashi, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao through her mother Lynlyn who interpreted English questions to Nihonggo and good friend Dabawenya judoka Jennilou Mosqueda who also relayed the writer's questions via Line, said, "Sobrang tuwa ko po sa final na ippon ang score ko."
She was overflowing with gratitude for having made a milestone in her SEA Games debut for the Philippines.
"Nagpasalamat po ako kay Lord Jesus at sa supportive parents ko lalung-lalo na kay coach at sa teacher ko," the Syukugawa Gakuin senior High School student said.
Takahashi drew a bye in the preliminaries before beating Thi Dieu Tien Nguyen of Vietnam in the semifinals to arrange a titular showdown with the Thai defending champion.
Thongsri clinched a gold in the SEA Games editions held in Thailand (2007), Laos (2009), Indonesia (2011), Myanmar (2013) and Singapore (2015).
Takahashi, the only child of Japanese Tomoki and Lynlyn, who is a native of Maragusan in Compostella Valley Province, bared that she used sodetsuri ippon and newaza ippon to control her Thai opponent.
Lynlyn, in a separate Facebook interview, said she and her husband were not able to join their daughter to the Games as she has work and her husband is undergoing dialysis.
Takahashi was born in Japan but she studied Grades 1 and 2 in Panabo City, Davao del Norte where they lived but they soon settled in her father's home in Japan where she continued her studies.
The family used to go on vacation at her mother's hometown and in Panabo City but stopped when she started playing judo since fourth grade as her training schedule was usually hectic.
Lynlyn said Mariya has forgotten about speaking in Visayan, adding, "Kasabot sya gamay lang (She understands little Visayan)."
She's grateful for her child's victory, thanking God and everybody else who supported Filipino athletes in the SEA Games.
"Exited kaayo siya, una medyo kulba daw pero nag-advise iyang Papa nga mag-relax lang siya (She was so excited although at first she was nervous but her father advised her to just relax)," the proud mother shared.
She added that Mariya is mature for her age, saying, "Grabe independent jud kaayo siya, 16 years old palang sya karon. Layo kaayo iyang school diri sa Japan. Nag-dorm pana siya karon sa iyang school. Siya na naga-byahe bisag asa lagyo kaayo iyang training mag isa lang siya sakay ng train (She's very independent. She's only 16. Her school is far here in Japan. She is staying at her school's dorm. She travels by herself, rides on the train alone, no matter how far the training venue is)."
Mosqueda, meanwhile, said Takahashi wanted to play in the SEA Games since 2015.
"Mabait na bata yan nakasama ko siya sa training camp sa Japan. Grabe ka pursigido and yung respect sa senior niya (She's so determined and has high respect for her seniors)," she said.