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| Jomary Torres could not believe she knocked out her opponent in just 17 seconds for the gold. PSC Media Pool |
MANILA—Jomary Torres delivered a knockout blow felt not just inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium but also across Asia and Oceania when she scored the first gold medal for the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific Sambo Championships on Saturday night.
While sambo is known as a submission sport, Torres stunned Zhadyra Paiyz of the known regional powerhouse Kazakhstan with a roundhouse kick that cut the final of the adult women's combat sambo -50kg division short.
While Paiyz stood up after the 10-count, the referee deemed that she could not continue, ending the fight in just 17 seconds.
"Hindi po namin na-expect na ganito yung mangyayari," Torres said, adding that she was aware that Paiyz could take advantage of her grappling expertise if the game went to the ground.
However, seeing the height and reach advantage, Torres said she considered going for the finishing kick right at the bat.
"Nalagay sa utak ko, try ko kayang mag-roundhouse kasi medyo maliit naman siya. Medyo sumipa na ako. Hindi ko naman na-expect na yun yung mangyayari," Torres further said.
The former URCC and ONE Championship fighter added that her experience in mixed martial arts greatly helped her transition to sambo.
Meanwhile, Princess Cortez escaped a late submission attempt from Mervet Berdikhanova to preserve a 9-2 win in the adult women's combat sambo -59kg final for the home team's second gold.
Just needing a simple takedown to activate the mercy rule, Cortez found herself needing to get out of Berdikhanova's armbar late into the contest.
However, Berdikhanova's comeback bid came a bit too late as she only got her armbar with just five seconds left in the match.
In a late heartbreaker, Sydney Sy relinquished her adult women's sport sambo 80+ kg championship to rival Arailym Abenova.
Abenova got back at Sy after activating the mercy rule with only 43 seconds left and the count at 8-0.
Sy admitted that she wanted to win it all as her way of giving thanks to those who made her sambo dreams come true.
"Gusto ko talagang manalo kasi gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng suporta, at kung hindi dahil sa sambo, hindi ko maaabot kung saan ako ngayon," said an emotional Sy, who juggled between training and helping make the event happen.
Despite the defeat, Sy remained grateful that Day 3 delivered the biggest medal haul of the home side in the four-day tournament, thanks to Torres and Cortez's golds.
