By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipina karateka Jamie Lim defied all the odds and reigned supreme in the women’s kumite -61kg category in the ongoing 2023 Southeast Asian Games last May 7, 2023, held at the Chory Changvar Convention Center Hall A in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Team PHL’s karate superstar surpassed the final test and took down home bet Vann Chakriya during the grand finals, 3-1, to redeem her 2022 SEA Games campaign.
It was a hard-fought battle for the Filipina after needing great set-ups to generate the two killer punches that helped her clinch the gold medal.
Despite the craftiness that the Cambodian displayed in the championship match, Lim’s quick hits were more than enough to silence the hostile crowd at the Chory Changvar Convention Center Hall.
Lim first had to get past Thi Ngoan Nguyen of Vietnam, 5-0, in the quarterfinals before earning a slot in the semifinal round.
She then set up a highly-anticipated matchup with Siti Nur Azwani of Malaysia in the semis and won in a convincing fashion, 6-3.
Now that the gold medal is in her hands, Lim reflected on the struggle she went through just to be in this position representing the country.
“When I am in London, I go to the gym and then study. Iiyak ako sa stress at pagod. Pagkagaling sa gym, uwi, aral, tulog, so hindi na po ako nakakalabas,” said Lim.
Lim bared that it was hard to balance her training and studies as she is still seeking to finish a Master’s degree in Business Analytics in London.
The daughter of PBA legend Samboy Lim is still a student at the Imperial College in London and immediately got a sigh of relief when she climbed in the middle of the podium while getting recognized as the champion in the women’s kumite -61kg category.
