By Winning Four More Medals, the Brazilian Judo Reaches 11 Awards in the South-American Games
Barbara Timo (70kg) won silver while Gustavo Assis ( 81kg ), Eduardo Santos ( 90kg ) and Renata Januário ( 78kg ) took the bronze. This sport’s competition ends tomorrow, when the last three categories step on tatami.
The third day of judo competitions in the South-American Games was similar to the previous ones: reaching the podium in all categories. There were four victories: silver from Barbara Timo ( 70kg ) and three bronzes from Renata Januário ( 78kg ) , Gustavo Assis ( 81kg ) and Eduardo Santos ( 90kg ). In all, there were 11 medals, that is three gold, two silver and six bronze awards. On Friday the disputes ends with the men’s half-heavyweight and heavyweight and women’s heavy categories. Brazil will be represented by Rafael Buzacarini ( 100kg ), placed 18th in the world ranking, David Moura ( +100 kg ) , 6th and Claudirene Cezar ( +78 kg ).
\"Reaching the podium everyday is what matters to us and this shows the regularity of the Brazilian judo. Also seeing young athletes competing, acquiring experience is one of the Confederation’s strategies. When they replace the current seniors, they already have the \"Know -how\" of big competitions. I am quite satisfied is this sense, \"said Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, the President of the Brazilian Judo Confederation, who gave the medals to all Brazilians during the competition.
One of the most celebrated medals was Barbara Timo’s. The category was roundly disputed as everybody against everybody. The half heavyweight athlete fought hard against the world champion Yuri Alvear from Colombia, to whom she lost because of the minimum score in the first fight. She had to overcome this performance and so she won the other four rounds for the silver. This medal was gold worth.
\"I think I had a wrong strategy against the Colombian. I have been working hard on this competition during all Carnival. But I\'m happy with the result because in judo, the silver means the loss of gold. But in this case I can say that I was looking for the silver, “Barbara Timo said.
Two athletes competed for the first time in the national team. And they began with the podium. Gustavo Assis first fought against the best placed athlete in the world ranking who was then competing, the Argentinian Emmanuel Lucenti, 17th in the world in his category. And he defeated his opponent by wazari . But, in the semifinal, he was defeated by the Colombian Derian Giraldo.
\"I think I did a good competition but I have to evolve a lot. It\'s good to get a medal but the goal for this competition was gold. Because of a detail, I missed it. I will continue working to seize upcoming opportunities, \"said Gustavo Assis, who defeated the Uruguayan Alan Aprahamian by ippon in the fight for bronze.
Renata Januário, another rookie, started much nervous and was defeated right from the beginning by the Chilean Jacqueline Ayca but she recovered in contention for bronze and so she applied an ippon to the Peruvian Peruvian Mayte Mejia. After the fight , Mayra Aguiar’s sparring athlete said she wanted to take advantage of the international training from Saquarema, which began yesterday and would run until March 23rd with about 150 athletes from nine countries.
“I enjoyed representing Brazil and winning a medal in my first competition. But I thought I \'m not prepared enough for big competitions, I still have to learn a lot. I will train hard, especially in Saquarema to absorb everything I can and evolve further, “said Renata Januário.
The day’s last medal came from the experienced Eduardo Santos in the middleweight category. After losing in his debut to the Argentinian Cristian Schmidt, he defeated the Chilean Rafael Jelves by ippon and so he reached the eleventh Brazilian medal in judo in the South-American Games.
