Napolis gives PH first SEA Games gold in jiu-jitsu

PHNOM PENH: Jiu-jitsu athlete Kaila Napolis clinched the first gold medal of the Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, May 4, at the Hall B of Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Cambodia.

Kaila Napolis of the Philippines reacts after scoring a victory over Thi Huyen of Vietnam in their semifinal duel in jiu-jitsu at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, May 4, in Cambodia. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO 

The 25-year-old Napolis dominated Jessa Khan of host Cambodia in the finals, 2-0, to give the Philippines its first gold a day before the Games formally opens on Friday.

It was a sweet revenge for Napolis who lost to Khan in the 49kg final at the 2019 World Martial Arts Mastership Games in Chungju, South Korea.

Napolis started her gold medal bid with a triangle arm bar submission against Singaporean May Yong in the first round.

Napolis then scored a 3-0 win over Thai Nuchanat Singchalad in the second round before scoring a kimura submission victory against Vietnamese Thi Huyen in the third round.

Huyen’s elbow suffered an injury as she refused to immediately tap out despite the Filipino’s intense submission attack. Huyen eventually tapped out at the 2:31 mark.

In the final, Napolis found herself in a losing position as Khan managed to pin her down for the most of the 5-minute bout.

Napolis, however, pulled off a 2-0 win as she reversed the situation and snatched the gold medal.