The Mexican judo team finds itself with renewed motivation and a clear focus on the next challenges in Montreal, Canada. Starting this Thursday, the Aztec team will participate in three important competitions: the Junior and Cadet Pan American Cups, which are qualifiers for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games, and the Senior Pan American Open. These tournaments represent not only a key platform for young talent, but also an opportunity to consolidate their international ranking and earn a place in next year’s continental event.
The first event will be the Junior Pan American Cup, which will be held on Thursday and Friday and will serve as qualification for the Junior Pan American Games. A total of 13 athletes, eight men and five women, make up the Mexican delegation that will take to the tatami with the firm objective of ensuring their presence in Asunción 2025. Among the judokas who will represent Mexico in this competition, Carlos Macías, Eduardo Sagastegui, Ian Aguirre, Juan Ramírez, Rafael Ramírez, Yael Díaz, Dante Flores, Hugo Sánchez, Daniela Leandro, Aylin Ávila, Frida Maya, Yamileth Juárez and Paula Sánchez. All of them will arrive with the goal of fighting for the first places, since some competitors, like Rafael Ramírez, already have their classification, and others must finish among the first two in their respective categories to ensure their place in the classification zone.
Jorge Luis Atencio, head of national coaches, explained that classification for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games will not only depend on the performance of the athletes on the tatami, but also on the strategy of each judoka to stay within the top positions, which will be achieved with podium climbs in this Cup. For some, like Rafael Ramírez, their classification is already assured, and their objective will be to maintain their place in the classification, while others will fight for a place in the qualification zone in order to secure your ticket for Asunción 2025.
The next day, Friday, Rafael Ramírez will also compete in the Cadet Pan American Cup, seeking to add experience and additional points on his way to the next international challenges. The U-18 cadet and U-21 junior category tournaments will be recognized by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for world ranking, making this competition one of the most important in the calendar of young judokas. The results obtained in the Junior Pan American Cup will also have a direct impact on the world ranking, which could improve the positions of Mexican athletes in future international competitions.
This weekend, the Mexican team will take another step in its ambition to conquer glory in Montreal with its participation in the Pan American Senior Open, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday. In this event, Juan Ramírez and José Ramírez will be in charge of defending the colors of Mexico in the senior category. This tournament is crucial for the most experienced athletes, as it will count towards the International Judo Federation (IJF) world ranking, meaning that judokas will have the opportunity to score valuable points on their way to the most important competitions, such as the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
The Pan American Senior Open is a high-level competition that brings together the best judokas in America. The participation of Mexican judokas in this senior category will not only allow them to measure their level against the most outstanding on the continent, but also refine their preparation for the most relevant international events of the Olympic cycle. The opportunity to score points in the world ranking is essential for athletes seeking to be among the best in the world and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Mexican judo delegation has demonstrated exemplary commitment and dedication in its preparation for this cycle of competitions, with the firm objective of positioning itself among the best in America and securing its place in the next Junior Pan American Games and the major international tournaments that are coming up. . With a talented and motivated team, Mexico is ready to face the challenge in Montreal, and the Junior and Cadet Pan American Cups, as well as the Senior Pan American Open, will be a platform to demonstrate the growth and quality of Mexican judokas on stage. international.
Mexican judo continues to grow and consolidate itself as a power on the continent, with young athletes seeking to transcend and raise the name of their country in international competitions. As they advance in their preparation, these judokas continue to demonstrate that, with effort and determination, they can achieve great things in the world of judo.
