.jpeg)
Kimberly Custodio of the Philippines in action in the jiu-jitsu competition of the 2026 Asian Games, October 1, 2026 at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall. POC Media
The Philippines' jiu-jitsu campaign in the 2026 Asian Games got off to a rough start on Thursday, with world champion jiu-jitsu Kimberly Custodio making an early exit.
Custodio bowed to Balqees Abdulla of the United Arab Emirates in the round-of-16 of the women's -48kg class at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.
Neither combatant scored but Abdulla had a one-point advantage in the seven-minute, 23-second affair, sending her to the quarterfinals.
It was a shock result for Custodio, who had been tabbed as a gold medal hopeful in her maiden Asiad after victories in the JJIF World Championships and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
READ: World champs Ramirez, Custodio to headline PH jiu-jitsu team in Asiad
Meanwhile, Marc Alexander Lim fell short of a medal in the men's -69kg class.
A 2-4 loss to Nurzhan Batyrbekov of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals sent Lim to the repechage, where he initially got past Ramazan Tianguber of Kyrgyzstan.
But Lim fell at the final hurdle, losing to South Korea's Joo Seonghyeon in the battle for the bronze medal.
Other Philippine athletes also made early exits, with Myron Mangubat losing to a foe from Uzbekistan in the men's -62kg round-of-32, while Yman Baluyo lost to his Kuwaiti opponent in the men's -69kg round-of-64.
The Philippines will pin their hopes on reigning Asiad gold medalist Annie Ramirez, who will see action on Friday.