THE Philippines’ campaign in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Ashgabat, Turkemistan, futher rolls today with the Filipino jiu-jitsu fighters set to see action.
Three-time International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championship winner Meggie Ochoa, two-time Asian Beach Games gold medalist Annie Ramirez, Hansel Terence Co, Gian Dee, Mark Lim, Golbert Ambao, Apryl Eppinger, Lou-Ann Jindani and Carolina Pajaron are to compete in various categories of the combat sports hoping to set the country’s bid in the nearly two-week tournament to a good start.
As of this writing, only wrestler Alvin Lobreguito has given the Philippines its first medal with a bronze in traditional wrestling played on Saturday.
Mr. Lobreguito lost to hometown bet Yakupnazar Yakubow, 4-0, in the 57-kilogram men’s freestyle event.
Later yesterday, Filipino tennis players Jason Patrombon, Anna Clarice Patrimonio and Khim Iglupas were to begin their preliminary round campaign in indoor tennis along with the five-man muay thai team.
The Philippines has sent a 116-man contingent in this year’s edition of the quadrennial continental sporting tournament, the opening ceremony of which was to be held last night.
The Filipinos are to compete in 17 sports disciplines.
Team Philippines hopes to better its showing at the AIMAG where it wound up with one gold medal and two bronzes, good for 18th place, in 2013 in Incheon, South Korea. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
