Varadero, April 6.- Another three gold medals on the closing day of the Varadero 2024 Pan American Judo Open allowed Cuba to dominate the countries in the competition.
In total they added seven titles, nine silver medals and 15 bronze medals, with which they beat the United States (2-2-5), Peru (2-1-1), Canada (2-0-3) and Poland (1-0-0).
Puerto Rico won a silver medal and two bronze medals, Costa Rica a second place and Nicaragua a third place. Haiti left the elite tournament of the Varadero 2024 Judo Carnival without medals.
Liester Cardona (100 kg) won all his fights by ippon: first against the Canadian Alex Garand, then against the Cuban Jonathan Delgado and left the American Gerónimo Saucedo in silver.
José García and Maykol Cobas, both Cubans, won the bronze medals in dispute.
Jonathan Loynaz (+100 kg), titleholder of the junior category tournament in 2023, won the open category this time, and just as on that occasion, he defeated the junior world runner-up Omar Cruz in the final, who reissued his silver medal. Jorge Pineda and Leonis Álvarez, from Cuba, completed the podium.
I feel very happy, this is a very important title for me at 20 years old and against a rival in the category of Omar Cruz, an excellent judoka. I had the opportunity to beat him again and I am very satisfied with the work done, the champion commented to JIT after his success.
The third medal of the day for the Greater Antilles was won by Naomis Elizalde (+78 kg), who left the subtitle for her compatriot Dayle Ojeda, after an extended lawsuit, decided in the golden rule by hansoku-make.
The Nicaraguan Izayana Marenco won one of the bronze medals, the other went to the neck of the American Jessica Alaynick.
The Canadian Coralie Godbout (78 kg), surprised the Peruvian Camila Figueroa, the best ranked of the event in the division, in the final.
Godbout left the first Cuban figure, Lianet Cardona, out of the title discussion, who had to settle for one of the bronze medals, the same as the American Nicole Stout.
Another of the champions of the day was the Polish Katarzyna Sobierajska (70 kg), number 31 in the world ranking.
Diana Brenes, from Costa Rica, reached the subtitle. The bronze medals were won by the Cuban Mayrelis Inojosa and the Puerto Rican Sairy Colón.
Yuta Galarreta (90 kg) defeated Alexander Knauf, from the United States, in the final. Locals Blasdiel Gort and Serguéis Rodríguez completed the podium.
Finally, Johan Silot (81 kg), a Cuban representing the United States, was crowned after beating Naysdel Cardoso in the final, the executioner in the semifinal of Maikel Mkencie, a bronze medalist like fellow Cuban Rubén Romero.
The day hosted the emotional official retirement ceremony of the stars Yalennis Castillo and Yanet Bermoy, who were recognized by Osvaldo Vento, president of Inder, and José Humberto Rodríguez, director of the Pan American Judo Confederation, among other sports authorities in Cuba.
Today the Varadero 2024 Pan American Judo Cup will be held in the cadet and junior categories. (Text and photo: JIT)
2024-04-06 00:14:50
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