Havana, September 15 (ACN)-- Cuba will be today with six judocas in the first day of the individual tournament of the Continental and Oceania Championship in Calgary, Canada, a competition that will take place until next Sunday with the participation of 170 representatives from 24 countries.
Andrés Taño, secretary general of the National Federation, informed the Cuban News Agency (ACN) that 14 of the 15 athletes - six women and eight men - who traveled to the Canadian city will finally compete for the largest of the Antilles, since Arnaes Odelín will not do so due to medical prescription.
He added that the decision responds to the need to preserve her for the Pan American Games of Santiago de Chile 2023, to be held in October-November.
Taño also ratified that the main objective of the teams is to continue the preparation for the Chilean multisport event and to add points to the ranking for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The technical meeting held this Thursday defined the first rivals of the Cubans, and Zamarit Gregorio will go up today in the 48 kilograms (kg) against the host Charlize Isabelle Medilo in pool A, and Yurisleidy Hernandez (52 kg/A) against Argentina's Agustina Lahiton.
Maylin del Toro (63 kg/B) was bye in the first round of the preliminaries, so she will face Hannah Martin of the United States in the second round, all three coached by Darliesky Leal.
Boanys Chang will guide this Friday Johathan Charón (60 kg/A), Orlando Polanco (66 kg/A) and Magdiel Estrada (73 kg/D), who will debut against American David Terad, Argentine Ivan Gomez and the winner of the bout between local Antoine Bouchard and William Tan Tin, from San Marino.
According to the program, Idelannis Gomez (70 kg/B), Lianet Cardona (78 kg/D), Idalis Ortiz (+78 kg/D), Maikel Mkencie (81 kg/A), Ivan Silva (90 kg/A), Liester Cardona (100 kg/C), Andy Granda (+100 kg/A) and Omar Cruz (+100 kg/B) will be in action for Cuba this Saturday, in the closing of the individual competition of the championship.
The mixed team tournament is scheduled for Sunday, and it is anticipated that the teams from Cuba, Canada and Brazil will be on the tatamis, with action in the 57, 70 and +70 divisions for women, and 73, 90 and +90 kg for men.
