Custodio, Ramirez win gold at 2025 World Jiujitsu Championships
Filipina jiujitsu stars Kimberly Anne Custodio and Annie Ramirez showcased their dominance on the global stage after ruling their respective divisions at the 2025 IJJF World Jiujitsu Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Custodio captured her third world title with a flawless performance in the adult female -45kg division. She outclassed Jou-an Chen of Chinese Taipei, 4–0, in the quarterfinals, edged Thi Hue Phung of Vietnam, 2–0, in the semifinals, and capped her campaign by submitting Aysha Alshamsi of the UAE via armbar in the gold medal bout.
Phung and the UAE’s Balqees Abdulkareem Abdoh Abdulla shared the bronze, while Custodio’s teammate Daniella Palanca finished fifth in the same weight class.
Meanwhile, veteran standout Annie Ramirez finally achieved a long-awaited milestone. Her first-ever World Championships gold medal after topping the adult female -57kg division.
Ramirez submitted Rachel Glover of Canada in the Round of 16, edged Jeong Hyeon Seon of South Korea in the quarterfinals, and outlasted Lina Grosset of France in the semifinals before sealing the title with a 2–0 win over Astrid Scholin of Sweden in the final.
The triumph marked a strong comeback for Ramirez, who rebounded from a non-podium finish at the World Games in Chengdu, China, last August. Grosset and Jeong both claimed bronze medals in her division, while fellow Filipino Estancia Jan Mendoza placed 17th overall.
Custodio and Ramirez’s golden performances reaffirm the Philippines’ growing prominence in international jiujitsu competition.
