SEA Games 2025: Aacus Ee and Kayleigh Lim clinch ju-jitsu medals on Games debut

Ju-jitsu exponent Aacus Ee, competing in the SEA Games for the first time, took silver in the men's Ne-waza Under-85kg event. Photo: SNOC/ Kong Chong Yew

Multiple SEA Games champion Noah Lim and debutant Aacus Ee both arrived in Bangkok seeking gold medal glory, but instead had to grapple with heartbreaking defeats in their respective ju-jitsu events on Dec 11.

Ee concluded his maiden SEA Games campaign with a silver medal after falling to the Philippines’ Dean Michael Roxas in the men’s Ne-waza Under-85kg final. Roxas was champion at the 2019 Games, the last time the event was contested at the biennial event. Lim, who won gold at the last three editions of the Games, lost to Marc Alexander Lim of the Philippines in a tight battle during the preliminary round of the men’s Ne-waza Under-69kg.
 
Singapore’s Kayleigh Lim clinched bronze in the women’s Ne-waza Under-48kg. 

Kayleigh Lim (left) in action in the women's Ne-waza Under-48kg event, where she finished third. Photo: SNOC/Kong Chong Yew
 
Ee said: “He got the better of me in a particular submission that forced me to tap, or else my foot would have got broken. Obviously I’m very upset, because I want to do more. We’ve trained very hard for this, so the goal is to always perform at our best. The final wasn’t my best, I could have done more.
 
“The goal is gold or nothing. It’s only gold.” 
 
Explaining his dejection despite clinching a silver, the 29-year-old said: “I’ve done Asian-level competitions and I know that I’m not too far from the guys at the Asian level. And to me, I have to win this as a bare minimum to make a breakthrough at the Asian level. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t win the final. I see myself as an Asian-level athlete, and not just a Southeast Asian-level athlete. 
 
“(There are) a lot of minor details, technical problems that I have to continue working on. The preparation was good, everything leading up to these Games was perfect. Training camp, sleep, diet – it was all great. It’s just unfortunate that I had to settle for silver.”
 
For Noah, whose opponent was also a SEA Games champion, there were valuable lessons as well. 
 
Recalling that there were “many moments” where he could have scored points, Noah noted he had instead focused on trying to force his opponent into a submission, which led to the scores being tied and the bout subsequently entering the golden score format. 

Multiple SEA Games champion Noah Lim was disappointed to finish outside of the podium in the men’s Ne-waza Under-69kg event. Photo: SNOC/ Kong Chong Yew

He said: “The first to score wins. I actually managed to get quite a good position, but unfortunately he caught my leg for a full lock and that gave him an advantage, winning him the match. 
 
“I know that a lot of the matches come down to just decision-making in a split second. I know that today I should have come out for two points. Of course I’m a little bit disappointed, because I’ve won the SEA Games every single (time) in the past few years and this is the first time I’m coming away with nothing. But we’re all human; as athletes, we try our best but we can’t always guarantee what’s going to happen on the day itself. The level is getting very high and very, very marginal errors can cost the whole match.” 
 
While he acknowledged feeling more pressure ahead of these Games, the 23-year-old refused to attribute his result to this. 
 
“Everyone feels pressure, everyone feels nervous, it’s always difficult to sleep the night before – that’s very normal,” he said. “It’s what every competitor faces. I don’t think I can make any excuses for my performance today. I just need to make better decisions and work harder and do better in the future.”
 
Ee is sure that his first SEA Games experience will help him grow as an athlete and coach. His protégé Kayleigh, who also made her Games bow in Bangkok, took the women’s Ne-waza Under 48kg bronze. 
 
Ee, the head coach at the Carpe Diem Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym, said: “It’s the next step of evolving as a coach. I not only have to focus on myself, I now have students competing alongside me and I also have to watch out for them. 

“An athlete’s role and a coach’s role is very difficult to do at the same time, especially at the same competition venue where we’re both competing at such a high-stakes competition. I think this was another part of my personal growth where I can evolve and really get better from – learning how to manage my own emotions and my students’ emotions. It is not easy, and it’s all about growth.”

Both coach and protégé took home silverware from their respective events on Dec 11. Photo: SNOC/ Kong Chong Yew
 
For Kayleigh, being on the podium on her first SEA Games outing means “the world”. She said: “I came in here with a lot of respect for my opponents, knowing that they’re seasoned competitors and that this will be my first foray into such a big stage. 

“Being able to (be on the) podium is incredibly surreal. This result is something I was hoping for, but not something I was expecting. I wish I didn’t have to end my last match against a fellow Singaporean and dear friend (Hong Soo Jin), but it is what it is, and I’m very grateful to be here.”

The 33rd SEA Games are held in Thailand from 9 to 20 December 2025. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.