The Comodor native won the bronze medal in the Senior category up to 48 kilos in the 2024 National Closing Judo Championship that took place in San Salvador de Jujuy. The judoka had won silver in the National Apertura that took place at the beginning of the year in the city of Carlos Paz.
At the Jujuy Basketball Federation stadium, from November 14 to 17, the National Closing Judo Championship was held.
The competition, organized by the Argentine Judo Confederation (CAJ), brought together more than 1,200 judokas from all over the country, belonging to 15 federations.
It was developed in the categories of Children A and B, Novice Cadet, Graduate Cadet, Junior Novice, Junior Graduate, Kyu Novice and Graduate, and Senior.
Chubut was represented by five athletes: Antonella Smart (Senior up to 48 kilos), Alan Elgueta (Senior up to 81 kilos), Irene Grodski (Kyu Graduate and Senior up to 63kg.), Julio Carez (Senior up to 81kg.) and Shabik Lemus (Senior up to 60kg.).
Where Smart shone, who confirmed his good moment and won a bronze medal. It should be noted that the Comodorense had obtained the silver medal in the National Apertura held in Villa Carlos Paz.
For its part, Carez came in fifth place in its category. Meanwhile, Grodski achieved third place in Graduated Kyu.
Emiliano Sillero, president of the Chubut Judo Federation, said that “all the athletes we took were from the senior category, the Senior, because the juniors were competing in the Araucanía Games. There were many athletes in the tournament, more than 1,200, we were representing and giving our best on the tatami.”
“As for the results, Antonella Smart continues to confirm her good moment and won a bronze medal. Julio Carez was very close to obtaining bronze again, in one of the most competitive categories there is, finishing in fifth place. “Irene Grodski took the bronze medal in Kyu Graduado,” added the judo leader.
Sillero thanked Comodoro Deportes and Chubut Deportes for their support and stressed that “in the National the extraordinary general assembly of the CAJ was also held, where authorities were renewed, and a meeting of the Federal Council of the CAJ was held. Paula Pareto was there and gave hierarchy to the event.” And he expressed that the National Apertura 2025 will be held in April in Santiago del Estero.
