The Vital Aza Theater in Pola de Lena hosted the XXXI Asturian Judo Gala, in which 55 athletes from the Asturian Federation of Judo and Associated Sports (FAJYDA) were distinguished, who during the last year and a half won a total of 99 national and two European medals. The act began with folklore from the land, in the hands of the tambourines Iratxe Espina and Mari Carmen Santos, and the dancers Loreto Suárez and Luis Ángel Fernández.
A video with the analysis by the president, José Ramón Díaz Maseda, on the present and future of the territory gave way to another where the important role of women in the Federation was highlighted. And it is that half of the sporting merits that were delivered had a woman’s name. In addition, the wushu athlete Alba Niño received the Bear of Honor from the FAJYDA, a recognition of merit and career, marked by a world medal, six European and 47 national medals, in addition to a recent doctorate and signing for Real Madrid through international training in sport psychology.
The mayor of Lena, Gema Álvarez, accompanied the judo family, as well as the Director of Sports of the Principality, Aida Nuño; the technical director of the Royal Spanish Federation of Judo and Associated Sports, Serafín Aragüete, and the presidents of the Aragonese and Cantabrian federations, José Ángel Hierro and Manolo Muñiz, respectively. The Municipalities of Nava and Bimenes were distinguished for their commitment to judo, and the teacher Eduardo Lombardero for the recent award of the eighth dan. The most emotional moment of the Gala came in the final stretch, with a heartfelt tribute to Covadonga Martínez, secretary of the Asturian Federation for the last four decades and who will retire at the end of this year.
