Brazilian National Team for 2010 is defined

The Brazilian National Team for the 2010 season has been defined. After a National Qualifying this Saturday (5) in Rio de Janeiro, 20 judokas have guaranteed their presence on the team, which already have athletes who are on the International Judo Federation World ranking and were already pre-qualified (see list below). The event is part of the London Project 2012 of the Brazilian Judo Confederation.

The two times Olympic medalist of the -73kg category, Leandro Guilheiro guaranteed his spot on the national team after wining his fight during the qualifying in the -81kg category. The judoka believes that the 2010 season will be one of many discoveries.

“At the qualifying what matters is winning, it isn’t important if it is by ippon or punishment of the opponent. Everyone knows each other so the fights are more difficult. For me everything is new and I feel like conquering the world. I still want to know better my adversaries from this category and gain more weight”, said Leandro Guilheiro.
Who will also have a 2010 full of novelties is Laisa Santana. In the -63kg category the judoka overcame and defeated experience international athletes like the vice-champion of the Pan American Games Rio 2007 and the representative of Brazil in the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, Danielli Yuri.

“I hope for a fantastic 2010. I fought against more experienced judokas and I managed to get the spot. I’m extremely happy and I think it will be a year of many discoveries too. Every effort so far was worth it”, commented Laisa Santana.
Bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympic Games, Ketleyn Quadros (-57kg) has confirmed her favoritism and guaranteed a place at the 2010 national team.

“There was a lot of expectation and I manage to give back to my family and team the hope they had place in me this year. Now that I have guaranteed a place on the national team, I have to focus on training and doing well at the competitions to guarantee a spot at the world ranking”, said Ketleyn Quadros.
Returning to the Brazilian Team in 2010 is record-holder of medals at world championships under 20 Mayra Aguiar. After recovering during this season of a knee surgery, Mayra has gone through the qualifying without any trouble.
“I was calm because I knew that there wasn’t anybody on my weight in the world ranking, so I only had to make it to the final to win a place on the team. Now, I have to focus on the competitions ahead and on wining points for the world ranking”, guaranteed Mayra Aguiar.

The two-time Champion of the World João Derly has injured his left knee while fighting against. The judoka will be examined and, after the confirmation of the severity of the injury, he will know what his plans for 2010 will be.
“First I need to see how bad the problem is. Unfortunately my opponent fell on top of my leg and I turned, causing the injury. Now I have to think about recovering”, Said Derly. "


Brazilian Team 2010

-48kg: Sarah Menezes (pre-qualified through the world ranking) and Daniela Polzin
-52kg: Erika Miranda (pre-qualified through the world ranking) and Andressa Fernandes
-57kg: Rafaela Silva (pre-qualified through the world ranking), Ketleyn Quadros and Josiane Falco
-63kg: Laisa Santana and Mariana Silva
-70kg: Helena Romanelli and Glaucia Lima
-78kg: Mayra Aguiar and Steffani Lupetti
+78kg: Maria Suellen and Aline Puglia

-60kg: Breno Alves, Ricardo Ayres and Felipe Kitadai
-66kg: Leandro Cunha (pre-qualified through the world ranking) and Alex Pombo
-73kg: Bruno Mendonça and Marcelo Contini
-81kg: Nacif Elias (pre-qualified through the world ranking), Flávio Canto (pre-qualified through the world ranking) and Leandro Guilheiro
-90kg: Hugo Pessanha (pre-qualified through the world ranking), Tiago Camilo (pre-qualified through the world ranking) and Eduardo Santos (pre-qualified through the world ranking)
-100kg: Luciano Corrêa (pre-qualified through the worldranking), Leonardo Leite (pre-qualified through world the ranking) and Leandro Gonçalves
+100kg: Daniel Hernandes (pre-qualified through the world ranking), Walter Santos (pre-qualified through the world ranking) and Rafael Silva