The Muntinlupa City government congratulated Jenna Kaila Napolis for winning the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Cambodia.
Napolis, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa, won the gold in the Jiu Jitsu Women's Newaza Gi - 52kg event by defeating Cambodia’s Jessa Khan on May 4.
Jenna Kaila Napolis (Cambodia 2023 SEA Games)
Jenna Kaila Napolis (Photo from Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino's Facebook account)
Jenna Kaila Napolis at the awarding ceremony in Cambodia (Photo from Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines on Facebook)
“Ang Jiu jitsu athlete ay isang Muntinlupeño, mula sa Brgy. Poblacion. Muli, Congratulations Kaila! (The Jiu jitsu athlete is a Muntinlupeño from Brgy. Poblacion. Again, Congratulations Kaila!),” the city government posted on Facebook.
In a Facebook post, Napolis said, “4 matches to Seagames Gold.”
“My faith as small as a mustard seed got me through here. I'm so happy I was able to conquer my fear of competing against one of the best in the world,” she added.
She said, “Thank you to everyone I've shared the mats with! We finally got our ‘oneday’ because of all of YOU. Happy to bring this home for my country, for my team, for the scardey cat me and for my loved ones.”