Ecuador added one more gold medal at the Asunción 2022 South American Games and has already accumulated 12. This came thanks to the judoka Juan Ayala who won in his division, -60 kg. Ayala defeated Iván Salas from Venezuela in the final, giving him an Ippon.
“Before going out to fight, with my coach we made a strategic plan, we studied the rival a lot and we went out directed to do some work with my opponent from Venezuela. Thank God things went well and we were champions, “said the national athlete after his victory.
The judoka, a native of Morona Santiago, also assured that when he won the medal he remembered his family, coaches and all the people who have supported him. “Many messages came to me before the final and that motivated me to give everything of myself. It is the satisfaction of duty fulfilled,” revealed the 21-year-old.
In addition, the national delegation won two more bronze medals in this discipline that completed its first day of competition. The same were achieved by Lenín Preciado, in the -66 kg division, and Astrid Gavidia in the -57 kg division..
Lenin Preciado during his combat. Photo: Ministry of Sport
Preciado beat Colombian Juan Pablo Hernández with an ippon, while Gavidia beat Paraguayan Fiorela Aranda. The three have already received their respective medals at the award ceremony that took place on Tuesday afternoon.
Astrid Gavidia submits her rival. Photo: Ministry of Sport
Swimming gave a silver
On the day of this Tuesday there was also participation of the open water swimming team. There Esteban Enderica got a silver medal in the 10 kilometers, he came behind the Colombian Juan Morales. The other Ecuadorian in that race, David Farinango, finished fifth and secured qualification for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
“It was a race disputed from start to finish, with a bittersweet taste because as soon as the race started my swimsuit tore. I felt it when I got into the water and that did not allow me to compete 100% because every time I wanted to pick up the pace or increase the level, my entire wetsuit would fill up with water.. So I had to compete in those conditions,” said Enderica.
“Happy to get back on the podium I came for the gold medal, but this time we leave with a silver medal. This helps us to continue getting up and improving day by day,” added the swimmer from Cuenca.
While in the women’s branch, Ana Victoria Abad came in fifth position and also won a place in the Pan American Games.. Instead Andrea Pereira arrived in the fourteenth location. Both competed in the 10 kilometres.
No luck in table tennis
It was not the day for Alberto Miño in microtennis as he fell in the quarterfinals in the individual category. The Ecuadorian lost to Chilean Nicolás Burgos in six sets: 12/14, 11/5, 4/11, 11/8, 8/11 and 7/11.
Sixth in the medal table
After Tuesday’s session, Ecuador accumulates 12 gold medals, six silver and 15 bronze for a total of 33 medals.That places him sixth in the general Odesur medal table behind Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela.
