Napolis bags shining silver

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines struck with a first podium achievement in the 2025 World Games courtesy of lady warrior Kaila Napolis who claimed the silver in jiu-jitsu ne-waza -52kg in Chengdu, China yesterday.

Napolis barely missed out on a golden effort in falling against Im Eon Ju of South Korea but nonetheless made the country proud with her fighting performance.

And it may be the start of something big for the lean but mean Philippine delegation headed by chef-de-mission Stephen Arapoc.

Napolis made the gold-medal fight by edging Israeli Pnina Aronov in the semis.

But in taking a shot at joining pool artist Carlo Biado and karateka Junna Tsukii in the elite group of Filipino World Games gold winners, Napolis ran into the fearsome South Korean and just couldn’t find an answer.

She went down in defeat in the finale on the same day fellow jiu-jitsu fighter Annie Ramirez and wakeboarder Ralph Trinidad missed out on a potential medal hit.

Ramirez, the Asian Games gold medalist, dropped two bouts and went out of contention in the women’s -57kg class.

Meanwhile, Trinidad came close to snatching a bronze in the men’s cable event but a late, heartbreaking mistake in the final stunt denied him that opportunity.

He ended up fourth with 56.60 points in the discipline ruled by France’s Loic Deschaux, who had a spectacular 95.00.

Germans Max Milde (92.80) and Florian Weiherer (65.00) took the silver and bronze, respectively.

In billiards, Chezka Centeno carried the fight in women’s 10-ball, beating Savannah Easton of the USA, 7-2. She faces hometown bet Yu Han today at 9 a.m.

Rubilen Amit bowed to Pia Filler of Germany, 4-7. She battles another Chinese, Shasha Liu, at 3:30 p.m.

In wushu, Krizan Faith Collado defeated Elisabetta Sirto of Italy, 2-0, women’s sanda -52kg event at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium.