Brazil Is the Champion of the BRA Super Pan American Judo Challenge
The Brazilian team defeated Cuba by four to one in the decision. Canada took the bronze after defeating the United States by four to one as well.
Pushed by a vibrant crowd, Brazil gave no chance to Cuba on the final day of the BRA Super Pan American Judo Challenge, played at Chevrolet Hall in Belo Horizonte,on Tuesday, October 21st and won by four to one, winning thus the gold medal of the friendly competition. In the first fight of the day, Canada defeated the United States by four to one as well and so they took the bronze.
Canada, led by the Brazilian Sergio Pessoa, won due to Philippe Desjardins’s ippon on Spencer Augustine. But Hana Carmichael won the fight against Mackenzie Burt by yuko and tied the contention. Since the United States did not win any further fight, she was the only American winning a victory in the Challenge. Then, Zachary Burt and Alix Renaud-Roy defeated Robert Lee and Janine Nakao by wazari and guaranteed the Canadian medal. Ending the confrontation, Marc Deschênes needed only twelve seconds to defeat Peter Stanley.
"It's always good to come to Brazil to participate in championships with such a good technical level. We brought a young team to gain experience by facing tough opponents. The Canadian judo is evolving: we won the bronze in London 2012 and the silver in the World Judo Championships 2014, "said the coach Sergio Pessoa who has been working for ten years in the Canadian country. “We have a new training center in Montreal and we will gladly welcome the Brazilians there," he added.
After this, it was Brazil's turn to face Cuba in the final. Charles Chibana, world number one in the half lightweight category, put the Brazilians ahead by defeating Anyelo Gomez by ippon. Rafaela Silva, world champion in 2013 in the lightweight category, had a tough fight against Aliuska Ojeda Martinez but she managed to win a wazari. Brazil needed only a point to get the victory. And it was Vinicius Panini in charge of bringing the victory. The half-middleweight athlete defeated Jorge Martínez by yuko and made Brazil win by three to zero. Barbara Timo could not fit her best judo against Onix Cortes Aldama, bronze medal at the World Judo Championship Chelyabinsk 2014, and was defeated by a yuko. And the heavyweight David Moura gave the final numbers to the competition with a beautiful ippon against Alex Mendoza.
"Such a challenge helps to promote our sport a lot. It is impossible not to get motivated fighting in front of a crowd who is always supportive. "Chibana said.
The Brazilian Junior Team start this Wednesday their fight for medals in the World Junior Championship. Their next appointment is the International Challenge on November 30th at the opening of the Pan-American Judo Center in Lauro de Freitas, located in the metropolitan region of Salvador.
