Singapore’s ju-jitsu athletes took centre stage at the Ronnaphakat Building, Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Air Force Academy, adding a bronze and silver in ne-waza competition after Jedd Tan’s golden exploits in the fighting system category a day earlier.
On Thursday (Dec 11), Games debutant Aacus Ee took silver in the men’s under-85kg ne-waza category while fellow debutant Kayleigh Lim took bronze in the under-48kg ne-waza event after beating compatriot Hong Soo Jin 3 – 2 by advantage in the repechage final round.
Ee, the 2025 Ju-Jitsu National Championship winner, could not hide his disappointment despite going all the way to the final.
“I’m grateful for the silver, but of course I’m a little upset because gold felt within reach. I’ve worked incredibly hard for this, and when you know you were close, it stings a bit. But that’s part of high-level competition, sometimes the margins are razor thin.”
Ee started his campaign in the quarterfinals with a commanding 3–0 victory by advantage over Thailand’s Suntra Sooknatee, before a submission victory over the Philippines’ Luzuriaga Vito Luis.
In the final, he fell by submission to 2019 Games gold medallist Roxas Dean Michael despite a strong effort.
Coming so close to gold will only fuel Ee, who previously reached the round of 16 at the 2023 Asian Games.
“I’ve put in too much work to settle, so this feeling is going to fuel me for the next cycle. I’m grateful for the result, but I’m not done,” the head coach at Carpe Diem Jiu-Jitsu Singapore said.
Meanwhile, Lim came back from an opening round loss to Thailand’s Kacie Tan, advancing to the repechage final round after Indonesia’s Arba Nazwah Dzakira Putri withdrew.
She eventually took home bronze after a nail-biting match with Hong that went the distance.
Full report to follow.
