Maylín del Toro

Abu Dhabi, May 21 (PL).- The setback of Cuban judoka Maylín del Toro (63 kilograms) in the round of 16 of the Abu Dhabi World Championship today left Latin America without representatives in the fight for medals in the category.

The Antillean appeared in great shape on the third day of the tournament that attracts 658 athletes from 107 countries, dominating in her first two fights against the Brazilian Ketleyn Quadros and the Romanian of Cuban origin Amanda Zuaznabar-Torres, but gave up for Hansoku- Make (three warnings) in a close duel with the Australian Katharina Haecker, second in the ranking.

In previous stages of the 63 kilograms among women, the Mexican Prisca Awiti and the Venezuelan Anriquelis Barrios, who managed to win a fight, and the Brazilian Nuana Silva said goodbye.

Among the men, the 81 kilogram judokas took to the tatami this Tuesday at the Mubadala Arena, with the Brazilian Guilherme Schimidt, fourth in the universal ranking, as the only Latin American who advanced to the round of 16.

Latin America has not been able to win a medal in the first two days of the Abu Dhabi World Cup, with the Brazilian 73 kilogram Daniel Gargnin as the one who came closest to getting it, but he fell yesterday in the discussion of one of the bronzes against the Mongolian Ankhzaya Lavjargal.

The French judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou fell in the 63 kilogram quarterfinals against the Canadian Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard and lost the opportunity to become a seven-time world champion.

At 31 years old, the double Olympic champion of Tokyo-2020, individual and mixed team, had arrived at the Abu Dhabi competition with the possibility of equaling the feat of the legendary Japanese Ryoko Tani, the only one to rise to the top of the podium in seven different world championships, since the Chinese super heavyweight Tong Wen also won seven golds, but in six events.

A Waza-ari defined the duel at the Mubadala Arena in favor of the northerner Beauchemin-Pinard, in a result that should not be considered a surprise.

The 29-year-old Canadian took to the tatami in this capital as first in the ranking, with a record that includes Olympic bronze in Tokyo and world silver.

Agbegnenou can still get the bronze medal, for which she will have to dominate the repechage and emerge victorious in the challenge against one of those defeated in the semifinals.