JENIELOU Mosqueda of Davao City salvaged a bronze medal for the Philippines in the just-concluded 5th Asian Beach Games kurash competition at Bien Dong Park in Da Nang, Vietnam.
The 35-year-old Dabawenya, a former University of Mindanao (UM) judo standout, lost her semifinal match to Vietnamese Thin Le Thi after beating Ayna Jumakulyeva of Turkmenistan in the quarterfinals of the women's-57 kg. event.
Mosqueda said it was her first time to compete in kurash, the ancient martial art with its roots in Uzbekistan, said she has to adjust.
"Nangapa kami sa rules, sa sand and weather. Lisod (Difficult) under the heat of the sun tapos sa indoor kami nag-training without sand pa," she said in a Facebook interview, adding that the sand would get into the eyes at times.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, in a separate chat, said, "Kurash is still similar to judo but is played on sand."
Mosqueda, however, said all they knew before arriving in Da Nang was that kurash will be played along the beach with mats and covered area just like what they saw in YouTube.
But they were surprised to find out it will be played on sand under the scorching heat of the sun.
The kurash technique is similar to judo, according to her, but minus the grappling and the rules are different as well as the uniforms.
Mosqueda added, "Twelve seconds yung laro namin nung sa bronze match. Knockout system depende kung ilan kayo sa bracket. Medyo confused kami sa rules. Pag-umpisa tala ka, no chance sa medal na."
She clarified though that she is still with the national judo team although in the Asian Beach Games, she was among those assigned to play in kurash.
Vietnam topped the kurash competition with four golds followed by Iran and Uzbekistan with two golds each as Chinese Taipei and Turkmenistan accounted for one gold.