BAHRAIN — Years of training together turned into a golden moment for siblings Charlie and Travis Ratcliff.

The teenage fighters delivered a double podium finish for the Philippines at the Asian Youth Games, with Charlie capturing the girls’ 45kg gold medal and Travis settling for silver in the boys’ 60kg division.

For the Ratcliffs, who grew up on the mats under the watchful eye of their mother and coach, Maria Aisa, it was a family triumph built on discipline and shared dreams.

Family bond forged through years on the mat

Charlie, 16, and Travis, 17, both started training in jiu-jitsu long before trying mixed martial arts. Their mother, a former national wrestling team member and Asian grappling champion, introduced them to combat sports early on.

All those years of long sessions, early mornings, and late nights paid off when Charlie dominated Thailand’s Nakanantaphon Khaihong in the finals. She secured the win in just over a minute with a clinical rear naked choke.

Her quick victory came just hours after Travis narrowly lost in a tense overtime duel with Iran’s Amirmohammad Hatamianafshari, settling for silver after a judges’ decision.

From home training to the Asian stage

“It’s worth all the sacrifices,” Charlie said. “Balancing school and sports hasn’t been easy, but we pushed through because of our mom’s dedication.”

Maria Aisa, who herself won two golds at the 2023 United World Wrestling Asian Grappling Championships, said seeing both her children on the podium made every challenge worthwhile.

“It’s not easy training as a family,” she said. “But the effort and discipline we’ve built together are now paying off.”

The Ratcliffs’ combined effort highlighted the Philippines’ rising presence in youth MMA, as Alexander Tagure Jr. added a bronze in the boys’ 50kg division to complete the country’s three-medal haul.