PORTO ALEGRE HOSTS THE BRAZILIAN TROPHY

Some of the most important judokas in the country disputed on Saturday the 26th of September, in Porto Alegre (RS), the Brazilian Trophy. The event is worth a place in the selection process for the national team of 2010 and had about 400 judokas taking part, amongst them the world champion Luciano Corrêa, Hugo Pessanha, who won a gold medal at the World Cup in England, besides the Olympic medallist Ketleyn Quadros.

In the event there were also other athletes who have won medals at the World Cup in England such as Leandro Cunha (-66kg/silver), Raquel Silva (-52kg/silver), Taciana Lima (-48kg/bronze), Daniela Polzin (-48kg/bronze) and Rafaela Silva (-57kg/bronze). Other highlights are Denílson Lourenço (-60kg), Nacif Elias (-81kg), João Gabriel Shillitler (+100kg), Daniela Polzin (-48kg), Guillia Penalber (-52kg) and Danielli Yuri (-63kg).

“It is an excellent competition and the participation of so many high performance judokas only proves the importance of the Brazilian Trophy for the clubs. Being there is valuing the Brazilian judo”, said Erika Miranda, who represented Brazil at the World Championship in Holland in August.

After eight months healing from a surgery, Mayra Aguiar, one of the Brazilian judokas at the Olympic Games in Beijing and one of the main athletes of the new generation, went back to the tatami. To start fighting again, Mayra went through intense physical therapy. The judoka competed on the -78kg category.