SOUTHEAST Asian Games (SEA) Games 2017 judo champion Filipino-Japanese Mariya Takahashi salvaged a women's -70 kilograms silver medal to give the best performance for the six-member Team Philippines in the recently-concluded Hong Kong Asian Open 2017.
Fellow Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold medalist Kiyomi Watanabe settled for bronze in women's -63 kilogram division of the tournament sanctioned by the International Judo Federation while Davao City judoka Jenielou Mosqueda placed seventh in women's -63 kilogram.
The country's other bets Megumi Kurayoshi was fifth in the women's -57 kilograms, while Al Rolan Llamas (men's -60 kilograms) and George Angelo Baclagan (men's +100 kilograms) both finished seventh in their respective weight categories.
Takahashi, a 16-year-old senior high school student at Shukugawa Gakuin Hyogo, however, grieved her recent loss following two golden finishes in the Takasagu Hyogo-Ken All Senior High School Tournament last November 18 and Kyoto judo tournament held November 12.
Her mother Lynlyn, who is from Mapawa, Maragusan, Compostela Valley, translating her daughter's reply to Sun.Star Davao's question, said: "Ingon siya `syempre niabot nako sa Final tapos napildi' (She said she already made it to the finals but lost). Nagdalamhati daw sya. Galingan nalang daw nya next tournament."
Takahashi, who studied first and second grades in Panabo City before going to Japan, will next compete in a tournament on Sunday, December 17. But she had to cut her weight as she is entered in the women's -63 kilograms.
"Nagbaba sya karon og timbang kay -70 kgs man tong sa Asian Open (She had to reduce for the Sunday meet since she played -70 kgs in the Asian Open)," the proud mother said.
But she is concerned about her daughter's reducing weight only a few days before the competition.
Takahashi was the youngest judoka in the Hong Kong tournament as most competitors were already college students in Japan.
Lynlyn also said, "Kadtong first round nya third sa All Japan. Tong final nya, college pud to sa Japan. Mga bug-at jud mga kalaban. Si Mariya ra jud pinakabata sa tanan puro senior to iyang mga kalaban sya ra ang junior (Her first round opponent was a bronze medalist in the All Japan. Her finals rival is a college student. She really faced strong and heavy rivals. She was the youngest as most of her opponents were seniors, she was the only junior player)."
Takahashi also saw action in the World Junior Judo Championships held in Croatia where she bowed out in the Round of 16.