CULIACAN._ Three years ago, Sinaloa made history by obtaining a silver and a bronze medal in the Pan American Children’s and Youth Judo.
Today again Sinaloa raise your hand and will be present at the 2024 edition, an event that will take place in Varadero, Cubafrom November 26 to December 1. This time, with four athletes, in the women’s branch, and a coach.
Eduardo Rivera Medinawho leads the Sinaloan delegation, was clear and commented that they will seek to have a good result and surpass what they achieved in 2021, where they won a silver and bronze medal.
“More than anything, we seek to have a good result in this tournament, since we have, since 2021, a result of a silver medal and a bronze medal. Today we have strong cards, like Ana Lucía Alvares and Valeria López, and we will go to improve the results of that edition,” said Rivera Medina.
He added that both Alvares and López are in the top three nationally in the Under 15 category under 58 kilos, so he hopes they will achieve good results.
“These girls are in the top three places at the national level, let’s hope they stay in the top three podium places in the Pan American Championship,” highlighted the coach.
He thanked the parents for the support they have provided, as well as the team of the Sinaloense Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, headed by the General Director, Julio César Cascajares Ramírez.
“It has not been easy, but we have worked as a team, I want to thank our director Julio César (Cascajares) for the support, our High Performance director Daniel (Castro), as well as the methodology, medical, psychological, coaches and of course, the support of parents, which is very important,” highlighted Eduardo Rivera, who sees Sinaloan judo with a good projection for the Conade 2025 Nationals.
Nervous, but confident
The one who was clearly nervous was the judoka Valeria Mendoza Parra, who will have her first international event.
“I feel nervous, but confident,” said the athlete at the end of one of the training sessions.
Mendoza Parra admitted that, although it is his first event outside national territory, he hopes to get on the podium.
“Being on the podium, that is my main goal, we are happy to go to participate there (in Cuba), and give the best we have. “We are a little nervous, but we are fine, happy,” she highlighted.
For this event, she commented that her coach has told her to calm down and that she trusts herself.
Although she did not participate in the CONADE 2024 Nationals, due to being in the same division as Ana Lucía Alvares, she has not lowered her training intensity, as can be seen, in the 2025 edition of the national competition.
“By 2025, we hope to obtain a good result, in a new category, at 52 kilos, and I hope it goes well,” highlighted Valeria Mendoza.
Equipment
Category 13-14 years
Ana Lucia Alvares Lopez, 53 kg
Valeria Mendoza Parra, 58 kgs
Category 11-12 years
Alexa Tinoco Arellano, 47 kgs
Gabriela López Velázquez, +52 kgs
Coach
Eduardo Rivera Medina
