Derly has injury confirmed

The twice-champion of the world, João Derly, the injury on his left knee confirmed this Monday in Porto Alegre. The athlete from the Oi/Sogipa team had the joint and the and knee cap injured in a fight during the qualifying for the Olympic national team in Rio de Janeiro, last weekend. The injury will force him to go under surgery. According to the Chief of the Medical Department from Sogipa, José Paulo Flores, Derly will have to be out of the tatami for a period of time that may vary from six to eight months.

The athlete was very upset after the confirmation of the diagnostic, but promises to come back with full strength in 2010.

“I was coming back into shape. I had a bad year in 2009, filled with injuries. Now, I was getting my rhythm back and this happened. I was very sad, but I will come back and keep on representing Brazil in competitions around the whole world”, said the judoka.