Judokas bag 2 golds in Vietnam

The Philippines won two golds, four silvers and five bronzes to place second overall in the 2002 seventh ASEAN Judo championship held at the Phan Dinh Phung Indoor stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Franco Teves ruled the minus 55 kilograms, while Asian Games- bound Aisa Marie Ano captured the minus 78 kilograms to highlight the Philippines’ decent showing in the seven-nation tourney.

The silver medal winners were Samson Bernales (-66 kg), Esty Gay Liwanen(-63 kg), Karen Ann Solomon (-70 kg), and Khamila Rosales (+78 kg).

The bronze medalists were Gilbert Ramirez (-73 kg), Helen Dawa (-48 kg, and Rezil Rosajelos (-48 kg).

Teves, Bernales, Dawa and Liwanen each won bronze in the male and female divisions in kata competition.

Dawa also won gold in the same weight division in the 14-nation second HTV Cup of the 10th Vietnam international judo championships.

Gilbert Ramirez and Karen Ann Solomon got silvers while Teves and Ano won bronze in their respective weight divisions in the same tournament.

The Philippines placed second in the seventh ASEAN tourney with two golds, four silvers and five bronzes.

Vietnam, host of the 2003 SEA Games, won the overall championships with nine golds, three silvers and four bronzes. Myanmar placed third with two golds, four silvers and three bronzes.

The Philippines also wound up fifth in the 14-nation 10th Vietnam judo with one gold, two silvers and three bronzes.

The participating countries were Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Indonesia, Ho Chi Minh, Macau, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Vietnam entered two teams.

"We could have won more medals if we competed in all 14 weight divisions. We competed in nine events because of lack of funds," said judo president Capt. Rey Jaylo.