Paris Grand Slam: Brazil has two fifth places on the first Day

Sara Menezes and Erika Miranda have the best results from Brazil in the Paris Grand Slam, the first international competition of the year for the national team.

Both have placed fifth in their categories and have won important 60 points on the world ranking. Ketleyn Quadros, first female Olympian from Brazil in individual sports, finished in ninth place and summed 36 point on the list.

“I was satisfied to see that my judo has improved in comparison to last year. I had a good fight against the Hungarian [judoka], who is placed third in the world”, commented Ketleyn, defeated during the round-of-sixteen by Hedvig Karakas.

In the -48kg, Sarah Menezes, best athlete in the country in 2009 by the Brazilian Olympic Prize (Prêmio Brasil Olímpico), repeated her result of the last Grand Slam in Paris.

“It was the second time I faced this Korean [judoka]. The first time was during the World Championship in Rotterdam, when I lost after the referees’ decision. This time I felt better throughout the fight, stronger, and I think she felt it. I lost the combat, but I could have won too”, said Sarah.

Erika Miranda, who lost to Misato Nakamura, leader of the world ranking, during the quarter-finals, already has plans for the future.

“I think that as a team we had good results and we are managing to adapt to the new rules and understand the referees. It is important to be ready to win the Grand Slam in Rio, in May, when the world ranking will be qualifying for the Olympics. Until then we have to seek the best result possible”, guaranteed Erika, who came from a bronze medal at the Tokyo Grand Slam last December.

This Sunday, from 7am Brasília time, Nacif Elias and Leandro Guilheiro (81kg), Tiago Camilo (90kg), Luciano Correa (100kg), Walter Santos (+100kg), Mayra Aguiar (78kg) and Maria Suellen Altheman (+78kg) will be competing.


BRAZIL’S RESULTS – PARIS GRAND SLAM:

60kg:
Breno Alves lose to yuko para Rishod Sobirov (UZB)
Ricardo Ayres lose to waza-ari para Jeroen Mooren (NED)

66kg:
Alex Pombo won by ippon over Sebastien Bertholot (FRA) / perde por ippon para Ulugbek Norkobilov (UZB)

73kg:
Marcelo Contini won by ippon over Bernard Etonga (CMR) / lose by waza-ari to Yasuhiro Awano (JPN)

48kg:
Daniela Polzin lose by ippon to Jung-Yeon Chung (KOR)
Sarah Menezes won by yuko over Laetitia Payet (FRA) / lose by waza-ri to Jung-Yeon Chung (KOR)

52kg:
Andressa Fernandes win over Hanane Kerroumi (MAR) / lose by ippon to Ana Carrascosa (ESP)
Erika Miranda win by ippon over Kitty Bravik (NED) / lose by yuko to Misato Nakamura (JPN)

57kg:
Ketleyn Quadros win by yuko over Hannah Brueck (GER) / lose by ippon to Hedvig Karracas (HUN)

63kg:
Mariana Silva lose by waza-ari to Yarden Gerbi (ISR)

Manoela Penna, from Paris