
(ATR) Judo had its debut at the Lima Pan Am Games on Thursday, with three of its 10 events.
The Polideportivo 1, the venue where Argentina and Brazil were crowned handball champions, was revamped to welcome the judo athletes in the -48 and -52kg women’s and the -60kg men’s categories.
The fans went crazy at every battle, and intensified their cheers when a Perú judoka went into the tatami. Music, cheers and lots of flags invaded the place and gave an interesting party atmosphere.
The 2015 -60kg gold medalist Lenin Preciado of Ecuador beat Colombia’s John Futtinico, the bronze medalist in Toronto, in the quarterfinals. But Brazilian Renan Torres defeated Preciado in the intense final. The bronzes for the category went to Adonis Diaz of the USA and Roberto Almenares of Cuba.
"It’s the best day of my life, I’m really happy and surprised with my achievement," Torres said after the medals ceremony.
"This tournament is the confirmation that we are on the right path. It’s one of my first international tournaments and winning the gold gives me strength to go for everything."
The -48 kg bronze medalist from Toronto Edna Carrillo of Mexico failed to reach the quarterfinals this time and while Rio 2016 champion Paula Pareto of Argentina lost in the semifinals to Vanesa Godinez of Cuba, suffering a recurrence of a neck injury that forced her to then withdraw from her bronze medal match. The World Championship is just 15 days away, and that’s now first priority.
Godinez fought against Stefania Soriano of the Dominican Republic for the gold.
The 20-year-old Dominican, who won Judo Panamerican last year, was left exposed by her lack of tactics. Soriano, after a waza-ari, earned first place in the competition
"It’s an honor to give a new medal for my country, we hope that this one is the first one of many. I loved hearing Dominicanas anthem, it was really emotional," Soriano said.
The bronze medals went to Carrillo and Mary Dee Vargas of Chile, who earned the first judo Pan Am medal for her country after 28 years.
This comes as a result of changes made by the Chilean federation. They decided to modify the staff, including a psychologist, and step by step things started working out. Vargas was the first sign that the plan is working, but Chile expects to continue along this positive road over the next two days of competitions.
For the -52kg category there weren’t any defending medalists but the Cuban Nahomys Acosta, just 18 years old and a bronze medalist at the Youth Olympic Games 2018, took home a bronze medal along with Panama’s Kristine Jimenez.
Larissa Pimenta of Brazil claimed the gold by beating Luz Olvera of Mexico in the final.
Written and reported by Olivia Diaz Ugaldein Lima.
For general comments or questions,click here.
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Brigitte Henriques: “The important thing is that the women who are elected should be chosen for their ability, not because we are looking for modernization in terms of gender”
“When I was a girl I couldn’t find a club to play soccer in because most of them didn’t work with women,” Henriques tells Around the Rings during an in-depth interview in Crete, Greece.

The Hula Report: Winds of Change for ANOC in Crete
New leaders coming for peak Olympic group. Whether other candidates emerge in the months ahead, a contested election for the ANOC presidency will be a first for the organization.

Gilles Gilbert Gresenguet, presidential candidate for AFCNO: “We must take advantage of Paris 2024 to bring the Olympic Games back to French”
The elections take place November 18, and Abakar Djermah Aumi, president of the Chad Olympic Committee, is also aiming to win them.

USOPC announces 613-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team

Roger Federer pulls out of Tokyo Olympics: "I am greatly disappointed"
(ATR) Federer cites "a setback with my knee" for the decision.
