The Philippines was catapulted to the 4th spot in the world jiu-jitsu rankings following the victory of Meggie Ochoa late Thursday (PH time) at the 2022 JJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships at the Zayed Sports City in the United Arab Emirates.
The multi-titled Ochoa made it a double-gold celebration for the Philippines after beating Vicky Hoang Ni Ni of Canada, 2-0, in the finals of the women’s adult -48kg category.
Ochoa’s top podium finish for her second title in the world championship came after teammate Kimberly Anne Custodio won the country’s first gold in the tournament after she slipped past Thailand’s Pechrada Kacie Tan, 6-4, in the women’s adult -45kg category on Wednesday night.
The two-gold performance of the two gallant Filipinas put the Philippines in the tourney’s rankings at fourth behind overall champion host United Arab Emirates, which bagged three gold, three silver and four bronze medals.
Canada came in at second with a 3-2-2 gold-silver-bronze harvest, while Germany is at third with a 2-1-1 production.
After Philippines came Kazakhstan with a gold and two bronze medals. Portugal had a 1-1 tally, while Belgium had one gold.
Ochoa, a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, added another feather to her cap, becoming a two-time JJIF World Champion and three-time IBJJ World champion.
She barged her way to the final with a masterful conquest of Palestine’s Abdulkareem Balqees in the semifinal, 22-0.
Custodio, who bagged a silver in the 2016 IBJJF World Championship in California, won her first gold medal in the world tourney.
The rest of the six-member Philippine team failed to get medals.