First medal in Chengdu

Napolis assures of podium finish in World Games

- By RAMON BONILLA

Kaila Napolis just wanted to come back home and make her dream honeymoon a reality with the man she married just last February.

But the soft-spoken but brave warrior could find herself being celebrated by many after becoming the first toast of the Philippine team hungry for victory in the 2025 World Games here Sunday, Aug. 10.

Napolis assured the country of its first medal after advancing to the finals of the women's jujitsu -52-kilogram ne-waza event at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium, winning by advantage against Israel's Pnina Aronov in overtime after the round ended in a 3-3 draw.

The 28-year-old grappler will face South Korea's Eon Ju Im, who earlier beat the Filipina in the preliminaries, in their gold medal match later in the evening at 6:35 p.m.