Meggie Ochoa won gold again in the women’s -48kg event of the 2022 JJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships on 3 October (Manila time) at the Zayed Sports City, United Arab Emirates.
Ochoa, who became the Philippines’ first world champion when she ruled this event in Sweden in 2018, added another gold medal to her collection following a masterful 2-0 victory over Ni Ni Vicky Hoang of Canada.
Previously, she demolished Oana Lupu of Romania in the Round of 16, 14-0, Oleksandra Rusetska of Ukraine in the quarterfinals, 9-0, and hometown bet Abdulkareem Balqees in the semifinals, 22-0, to set the stage for a final showdown with the Canadian ace, whom she also beat in the gold medal match in 2018.
The world crown is just another feather on the 29-year-old Ochoa’s cap.
The former Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games champion bagged the silver medal in the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in California last July, and the 2022 Pan American IBJJF Championship in Florida last April.
She will also see action in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in 2023.
This is the country’s second gold in the prestigious tournament.
Kimberly Custodio won the first gold when she ruled the women’s -45kg division on 2 October.
Custodio defeated Southeast Asian rival Kacie Pechrada of Thailand, 6-4, in a thrilling final showdown.
She also dominated Sakaew Tadaporn in the semifinal, 14-0, after crushing hometown bet Hamdah Al Shkeili, 14-0, in the quarterfinal.
With two gold medals under its belt, the Philippines had an impressive finish, landing just behind the host country, Canada, and Germany in the final ranking of the adult category of this prestigious 23-country tournament.
Also part of the national contingent were 2021 JJIF bronze medalist Jenna Kaila Napolis, Ashley Villaret (women’s -52kg), Myron Mangubat and Jan Cortez (men’s -62kg), Brendo Pudan (men’s -69kg), and Philip Elegre (men’s -85kg).
