Alexandria Luz Enriquez wins first gold for Philippines at 2026 Asian Beach Games in jiu-jitsu 

Team Philippines struck gold for the first time at the ongoing 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, courtesy of a commanding performance from Alexandria Luz Enriquez, who captured the women’s ne-waza 63-kilogram jiu-jitsu title on Thursday, April 23.

Enriquez, who trains and is based in the United States but proudly represents the Philippines, delivered a composed and dominant showing throughout the competition, capped by a decisive 5–0 victory over South Korea’s Yeonni Lee in the final. Her triumph not only secured the country’s first gold of the Games but also added another milestone to the Philippines’ growing reputation in international jiu-jitsu competition.

The Filipino-American athlete began her campaign in emphatic fashion, recording back-to-back submission victories against opponents from China and Thailand to immediately establish herself as a strong contender for the podium. In the semifinals, Enriquez faced a stern test against Shamma Alkalbani, where both athletes were locked in a tightly contested battle that ended in a 4–4 stalemate. Enriquez ultimately advanced via advantage scoring, demonstrating tactical awareness and composure under pressure to book her place in the final.

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In the championship match, Enriquez asserted control early and never relinquished momentum, securing a clean 5–0 win to claim the gold medal in dominant fashion.

Speaking after her victory, an emotional Enriquez reflected on her journey and connection to her heritage.

“I feel so much pride and joy. First of all, glory to God. I was born in the Philippines and then we immigrated to the States when I was a very young child, six years old. To be able to come back as an adult and experience this, and to be part of something much larger than myself, is such a great honor,” she said.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮 👸🥇

Alexandria Luz Enriquez brings the Philippines’ first-ever GOLD medal at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, after a dominant 5-0 win against Yeonii Lee of South Korea. pic.twitter.com/a3fSINmSNN

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) April 23, 2026

Her triumph marked a significant moment not only personally but also for the Philippine delegation, as it became the nation’s sixth overall gold medal in Asian Beach Games history. The achievement comes as the Philippines continues to build momentum in combat sports on the continental stage.

Philippine chef de mission Don Z. Caringal praised Enriquez’s performance, highlighting both its competitive significance and symbolic value.

“Alexandria showed the heart of a true Filipino warrior today. To win gold here in Sanya, against the best in the continent, sets a high standard for our hosting in 2028. This is a proud moment for the entire nation,” Caringal said.

Enriquez’s gold-medal performance came shortly after teammate Kaila Napolis added to the country’s medal tally with a bronze in the same discipline. Napolis, a former silver medalist at the 2016 Asian Beach Games, once again demonstrated her consistency at the elite level, grinding out a hard-fought campaign before falling just short of the final.

“Sobrang nakakakaba. Kasi bawal magkamali. With overtime, the first to have an advantage na yung mananalo. So super tight talaga ng laban,” Napolis said, describing the intensity of her matches.

Elsewhere in the competition, Andrea Lois Lao narrowly missed out on a podium finish after losing her bronze medal match to Thailand’s Orapa Senatham, 3–0. The Philippine campaign also saw early exits for Myron Mangubat, Maria Ysabel Laureta, and Santino Luis Luzuriaga, who were all eliminated in the opening round of their respective divisions.

Despite mixed results across the roster, Enriquez’s breakthrough gold and Napolis’ podium finish underscored the Philippines’ growing strength in jiu-jitsu, offering an encouraging start to the nation’s Asian Beach Games campaign and reinforcing expectations ahead of future international competitions.

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