Brazilian Athletes Get Higher Positions in the World Ranking after Competing in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Leandro Cunha climbed 26 positions ; Alex Pombo 13 and Barbara Timo 14. Mariana Barros is among the top ten of her category after this Tuesday’s update.
The judokas who came back home yesterday had one more reward for their outstanding performance over the Grand Prix from Almaty and Tashkent. In addition to the 17 medals won (nine of them in the competition from Kazakhstan and eight in Uzbekistan), their scores made them get higher positions in the world rankings. The update was released this Tuesday on the website of the International Judo Federation.
Mariana Barros is the judoka that best represents the importance of the results. The athlete from Pernambuco won the gold medal in both Grand Prix competitions and is now among the top ten of her category. Before the competition, she was the 17th placed in the world ranking. After winning these awards, she scored 890 points and climbed in the 9th position.
“I’m happy with the results but I know I have a lot to work on yet. All this year’s achievements result from my work I have been carrying so far. I have to keep focused now and continue getting higher! \"said Mariana , who became this year world military and South-American vice-champion.
The biggest jump in ranking, however, was Leandro Cunha’s. The \" Thigh \", who had been lately recovering from an injury, won the bronze medal in Tashkent and rose from the 70th place in September’s ranking to the 44th in the current one . He jumped 26 positions.
With a gold in Almaty and a silver in Tashkent, Alex Pombo (73kg) is now among the top 20 best judokas in his category. He rose from the 32nd to the 19th. Bruno Mendonça is on the 12th position, the best place a Brazilian athlete has got in his category.
\"I have reached my objective after everything I had been going through, especially because of my injuries. These two competitions took me a stone from my heart and I feel as if I have changed my luck! Now I have to keep my work and correct my mistakes, “Pombo said.
Barbara Timo had a similar climb. She jumped from the 33th position to the 19th one thanks to her gold and bronze won in both competitions. In the same category, Nadia Merli climbed three positions and is now on the 16th position. The best Brazilian athlete in the category is Maria Portela, who kept her ninth place.
Ketleyn Quadros ( 57kg ) and David Moura ( +100 kg ) were already well-placed in the ranking, but they still climbed some positions. David jumped from the eighth place to the sixth one, and he is the second best Brazilian in the category. Rafael Silva (+100 kg) kept his second position . Ketleyn climbed already two positions, and is now the fifth in the category led by Automnie Pavia (FRA), the world champion Rafaela Silva being thirdly placed.
\"This position in the ranking is the outcome of work and dedication. These achievements encourage me learn more every day. I think I\'m on the right track, thanks to the support and investment from BJC, Mina, Marine, my sponsors and my family, \"said Ketleyn, bronze medalist at the Beijing Games.
The ranking is still led by the Brazilian athletes such as Sarah Menezes (48kg), Mayra Aguiar (78kg) and Maria Suelen Atlheman ( +78 kg ). Erika Miranda (52kg), Victor Penalber (81kg), and Rafael Silva are vice-leaders in their categories. Other Brazilians in good ranking positions are Maria Portela ( 70kg ) on the ninth , Felipe Kitadai ( 60kg )on the fifth , Charles Chibana ( 66kg ) on the fourth , Tiago Camilo ( 90kg ) on the eighth as well as Walter Santos ( +100 kg ).
The world ranking becomes even more important to Brazilians judokas because, according to the criteria set by the technical committee, the female athletes who are up to 14th position and the men who are up to 23th (Olympic ranking zone) do not need to compete in the Selective 2016 - Stage II . The last update to be considered before the Selective which will happen from December 13th to 15th in Rio de Janeiro will be released after the Grand Slam from Tokyo, the last international competition in which Brazil takes part this year.
