Photo credit: Philippine Sports Commission

Kaila Napolis, a jiu-jitsu fighter, secured the first gold medal for Team Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Cambodia on Thursday.

The 22-year-old dominated the Jiu-Jitsu Women's Ne-waza Nogi -52kg division, defeating all four of her opponents, culminating in a resounding 2-0 victory against Cambodia's Jessa Khan.

Napolis turned her silver medal finish in the 2019 edition of the games into a gold medal win this year.

The Philippines also won bronze medals in the Jiu-Jitsu Men's Duo from Jan Harvey Navarro and Karl Dale Navarro and Women’s Show of Jiu-Jitsu from Dianne Bargo and Isabela Montaña.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann in a statement said, "I had the privilege of being in the medal ceremony for our first gold medal winner, Kaila Napolis. Congratulations once again. I also want to congratulate Harvey and Karl Navarro for bringing in the first medal for Team Philippines."

"It is such a thrill to start counting medals and see how the hard work of our athletes are translating into these victories. Job well done!," he added.