Ochoa nails 3rd jiu-jitsu gold

MANILA, Philippines – Meggie Ochoa survived her toughest test yet in winning a third straight gold medal in the Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championship in Long Beach, California recently.

The pretty, petite 26-year-old again emerged champion in the rooster weight division (below 107 lbs) by besting her American opponent in the final.

On her way to the gold, she turned back her foes one after the other from Mongolia, Brazil, and the US.

Ochoa, who now works as a full-time jiu-jitsu coach here in the country, said she had a tough time winning this year compared in 2015.

“I think I had an easier time winning last year,” she said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate, where the jui-jitsu specialist served as one of the guests in the weekly session.

“The competition has become tougher and it’s a tribute to the progress of the sport,” said Ochoa.

Her success on the world stage, which began after she first won the gold in 2014, is a major proof Filipinos can excel in the sport.