Jessa Khan
{{short description|Cambodian ju-jitsu practitioner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Jessa Khan
|image = File:Jessa Khan 04.jpg
|nationality = Cambodian
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2001|10|08}}
|birth_place = Texas, U.S.
|height = 152cm
|weight = 49kg
|team = Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ)
|country = {{flag|Cambodia}}
|sport = Jujitsu
|event = ne-waza
|show-medals = yes
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalCount|total=yes
|Asian Games|1|0|0
|Southeast Asian Games|2|1|0
|European Championship|0|0|1
}}
{{MedalCountry|{{CAM}}}}
{{MedalSport|Jujutsu}}
{{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}}
{{MedalGold|2018 Jakarta-Palembang|ne-waza 49kg}}
{{MedalCompetition|Southeast Asian Games}}
{{MedalGold|2019 Philippines|ne-waza 49kg}}
{{MedalSilver|2023 Cambodia|ne-waza 52kg}}
{{MedalSport | No-gi Jiu-Jitsu}}
{{MedalCompetition|Southeast Asian Games}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Cambodia|52kg}}
{{MedalSport | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu}}
{{MedalCompetition | European Championship}}
{{MedalBronze | 2023 Paris, France | −48.5 kg}}
}}
Jessamine Jada Khan (born 8 October 2001),{{Cite web|url=http://news.sabay.com.kh/article/tag/%E1%9E%85%E1%9F%81%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%B6-%E1%9E%81%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%93%E1%9F%8B-jessa-khan|title=Sabay News|website=news.sabay.com.kh|access-date=2018-09-29}} often shortened as Jessa Khan ({{langx|km|ខាន់ ចេសា|Khăn Chésa}} {{IPA|km|kʰan ceːsaː|}}), is an American-born Cambodian jiu-jitsu athlete.{{Cite web|url=https://en.asiangames2018.id/athletes/athlete/KHAN-Jessa-3022394/|title=Jessa Khan {{!}} Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Palembang|website=Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Palembang|language=en-GB|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150449/https://en.asiangames2018.id/athletes/athlete/KHAN-Jessa-3022394/|url-status=dead}} She is the 2023 IBJJF World Champion.
Career
Khan represented Cambodia at the 2018 Asian Games and claimed a gold medal in the women's 49kg ne-waza event.{{Cite web|url=https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/post275395.html|title=Breaking: Jessa Khan Wins Asian Games Gold Medal for Cambodia ! – Cambodia Expats Online: Forum {{!}} News {{!}} Information {{!}} Blog|website=cambodiaexpatsonline.com|language=en-us|access-date=26 August 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50526689/cambodia-claims-a-ju-jitsu-gold/|title=Cambodia claims a Ju-Jitsu gold – Khmer Times|date=2018-08-25|work=Khmer Times|access-date=26 August 2018|language=en-US}} This was also the first gold medal to be received by Cambodia which happened to be unexpected in the sport of ju-jitsu during the 2018 Asian Games.{{Cite news|url=https://www.voacambodia.com/a/4543392.html|title=Cambodia wins first gold medal at 2018 Asian Games|last=Chap|first=Chetra|work=VOA|access-date=26 August 2018|language=en}} Khan is a second Gold Medal Cambodia's Asian Games history after Taekwondo Gold 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocasia.org/News/GetNewsbyNewsID?q=Cwkxkd2aFz0WxeYGIGD/BO/OJjUJ0IUlJ3leD0RL1hU=|title=News – Olympic Council of Asia|website=www.ocasia.org|access-date=2018-09-29}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She is a daughter of a Mexican American mother with Cambodian American father.{{Cite news|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50533196/jessa-khan-the-jiu-jitsu-prodigy/|title=Jessa Khan: The Jiu-Jitsu Prodigy – Khmer Times|date=2018-09-14|work=Khmer Times|access-date=2018-09-29|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/sport/jessa-khan-bags-double-gold-jiu-jitsu-worlds|title = Jessa Khan bags double gold at jiu-jitsu worlds}} She began jiu-jitsu training at age 12.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/jessaminekhan|title=Jessa Khan Athlete|website=www.facebook.com}}
On October 6, 2020, Khan was awarded her black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by her coaches, the Mendes brothers, just two days before her nineteenth birthday.{{Cite web|url=https://jitsmagazine.com/jessa-khan-becomes-first-black-belt-from-aoj-kids-program/|title = Jessa Khan Becomes First Black Belt from AOJ Kid's Program|date = 7 October 2020}}
Personal life
Khan was born in Texas and resides in Southern California.{{cite news |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/sport/asian-games-gold-for-cambodia-by-californian-born-in-texas-139851/ |newspaper=The Cambodia Daily |title=Asian Games: Gold for Cambodia by Californian born in Texas |agency=Associated Press |date=August 27, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828135738/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/sport/asian-games-gold-for-cambodia-by-californian-born-in-texas-139851/ |archive-date=28 August 2018}}
Black belt career
On February 26, 2021, Khan made her debut appearance on Who's Number One, defeating Danielle Kelly by unanimous decision.{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/whos-number-one-craig-jones-v-ronaldo-jr-full-results-and-review/ | title=Who's Number One: Craig Jones v Ronaldo Jr Full Results and Review | date=27 February 2021 }} She competed at Evolve Ur Game on April 3, 2021 in a superfight against Mayssa Bastos, losing on points.{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/evolve-ur-game-full-results-and-review/ | title=Evolve Ur Game Full Results and Review | date=4 April 2021 }} She returned to Who's Number One on May 28, 2021, defeating Patricia Fontes with an armbar.{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/whos-number-one-craig-jones-v-luiz-panza-full-results-and-review/ | title=Who's Number One: Craig Jones v Luiz Panza Full Results and Review | date=29 May 2021 }} This performance earned Khan the invitation to compete for the inaugural WNO women's strawweight title at the WNO Championships.{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/wno-championships-lineup-announced-for-115lbs-division/ | title=WNO Championships Lineup Announced for 115lbs Division | date=30 July 2021 }} Khan submitted Jessica Crane with a heelhook in the opening round, but was submitted by Grace Gundrum in the semifinal with a twister and was submitted by Amanda 'Tubby' Alequin in the consolation match with a toehold.{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/whos-number-one-championships-results-review/ | title=WNO Championships Full Results and Review | date=27 September 2021 }}
In May, 2022 Khan became one of the first grapplers to sign a contract with ONE Championship.{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/one-championship-signs-renato-canuto-jessa-khan-and-tainan-dalpra/ | title=ONE Championship Signs Renato Canuto, Jessa Khan, and Tainan Dalpra | date=12 May 2022 }} The promotion booked a rematch with Alequin for her debut at ONE 159 on July 22, 2022,{{cite web | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/jessa-khan-to-face-amanda-tubby-alequin-for-one-championship-debut/ | title=Jessa Khan to Face Amanda 'Tubby' Alequin for ONE Championship Debut | date=16 June 2022 }} but the match fell through when Alequin withdrew due to an undisclosed medical issue.
Khan competed in the 2023 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu European Championship, winning a bronze medal in the women's roosterweight division.{{cite web |title=IBJJF European Championship 2023 Full Results And Review |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/ibjjf-european-championship-2023-full-results-and-review/ |website=JitsMagazine |date=30 January 2023 |access-date=5 February 2023}} At the IBJJF Santa Cruz International Open on April 22nd, 2023, Khan won gold in the light-featherweight division.{{cite web |title=IBJJF Santa Cruz Open 2023 Produces Exciting Results |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/ibjjf-santa-cruz-open-2023-produces-exciting-results/ |website=JitsMagazine |date=24 April 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023}} Khan returned to the Southeast Asian Games in 2023 to represent Cambodia once again, winning silver in the gi ne-waza event and gold in the no gi ne-waza event.{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Sabrina |title=Jessa Khan Wins Gold At Southeast Asian Games 2023 |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/jessa-khan-wins-gold-at-southeast-asian-games-2023/ |website=JitsMagazine |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=8 May 2023}} She donated her winnings from the event to the Cambodian Red Cross.{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Sabrina |title=Jessa Khan Donates SEA Games Winnings To Cambodian Red Cross |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/jessa-khan-donates-sea-games-winnings-to-cambodian-red-cross/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=19 May 2023}}
Khan competed in the IBJJF World Championship 2023 on June 3 and 4, 2023 and won a gold medal in the light-featherweight division.{{cite web |title=IBJJF World Championship 2023 Full Results And Review |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/ibjjf-world-championship-2023-full-results-and-review/ |website=JitsMagazine |date=5 June 2023 |access-date=5 June 2023}}
Khan was booked to compete against Danielle Kelly in a rematch for the inaugural ONE Championship Atomweight submission grappling title at ONE Fight Night 14 on September 29, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Sabrina |title=Danielle Kelly Faces Jessa Khan For First Women's Title At ONE Fight Night 14 |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/danielle-kelly-faces-jessa-khan-for-first-womens-title-at-one-fight-night-14/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=19 July 2023 |access-date=19 July 2023}} Khan lost the match by decision.{{cite web |title=Danielle Kelly Wins First Female Submission Grappling Title At ONE Fight Night 14 |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/danielle-kelly-wins-first-female-submission-grappling-title-at-one-fight-night-14/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=30 September 2023 |access-date=30 September 2023}}
Khan then competed at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship 2023, where she won a silver medal in the light-featherweight division.{{cite web |title=IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2023 Full Results And Review |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/ibjjf-no-gi-world-championship-2023-full-results-and-review/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Jessa}}
Category:Cambodian female martial artists
Category:Ju-jitsu practitioners at the 2018 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games
Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Cambodia
Category:Martial artists from Texas
Category:Asian Games medalists in ju-jitsu
Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent
Category:American people of Cambodian descent
Category:Competitors at the 2019 SEA Games
Category:SEA Games gold medalists for Cambodia
Category:Asian people of Mexican descent
Category:Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champions (women)
Category:ONE Championship submission grapplers
Category:21st-century Cambodian people
{{Cambodia-sport-bio-stub}}