Brazil debuts at the World Championship Juniors this Thursday

Brazil will start its participation at the World Championship Juniors this Thursday (22), in Paris, France. On the first day of competition, the country will be represented by Sarah Menezes (-48kg), Raphael Minoru (-55kg) and Felipe Vieira (-60kg). The disputes are scheduled to start at 11am (local time) at the Pierre de Coubertin Gymnasium. In 14 editions of the Championship, Brazil has won 32 medals – 9 gold, 8 silver and 15 bronze. Some of the names that are now part of the national judo history have been up the podium at the World Championship of this category, such as the Olympian Aurélio Miguel and João Derly, the first Brazilian judoka to be a world champion senior.

The World Champion in 2008 and judoka of the Brazilian senior team, Sarah Menezes know that she will be eyed at the competition.

“I always expect for the best and I will try and fight with as much freedom as possible. Despite being world champion, I don’t think that it means I have an advantage, because I don’t know several of my opponents. It is not a burden being champion, but at the same time that give me some serenity it also makes me a little nervous. I believe that a lot of them would be a surprise for me, whereas they know me and have studied me. People look at me like I’m a senior athlete and I know that I’m not just “another one” at the competition”, said Sarah, who has also won gold medals at the world cups in Lisbon and Madrid this season, besides the bronze medal at the Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro.


World Juniors Schedule

22/10 – Weights -55kg, -60kg, -44kg e -48kg

23/10 – Weights -66kg, -73kg, -52kg e -57kg

24/10 – Weights -81kg, -90kg, -63kg e -70kg

25/10 – Weights -100kg, +100kg, -78kg e +78kg


Lucio Mattos, from Paris