Jiu-Jitsu fighters welcome SEAG inclusion

With five gold medals in the last Southeast Asian Games, Jiu-Jitsu fighters welcome the inclusion of the sport in the calendar of events in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam next year.

Veteran Annie Ramirez said that this is proof that the combat sport of Jiu- Jitsu is accepted in the region since Southeast Asian fighters are worldclass athletes.

“Madami na din sa Southeast Asian ang nagko-compete and nananalo sa iba’t ibang tournaments abroad like world championships, kaya masaya and napasama uli ang Jiu-Jitsu,” said Ramirez.

“Because of that, we’re excited and we’re already looking forward to the 2021 Southeast Asian Games… sana nga 2021 na para makapag-compete na uli kami, nakaka-miss na din.”

The SEAG Federation Executive Council included Jiu-Jitsu, together with esports, triathlon and bowling during a recent online meeting to the of list events for the 2021 SEA Games.

In the last SEA Games the country hosted, the Philippines Team captured five of the 11 gold medals at stake – three of seven in the men’s division and two of four in the women’s category.

Ramirez ruled the 55kg while Meggie Ochoa dominated the 45kg category.

In the men’s side, Carlo Angelo Pena won the gold medal in the 56kg, Adrian Guggenheim triumphed in the 77kg and Dean Michael Roxas took the title in the 86kg.

Ramirez said that they are eager to return to faceto-face training. Although for now, they are following the government protocols of online training since there is danger of being infected with the coronavirus, which forced lockdown on governments and suspended sports events.