18/10/2009 01:00:00
International Challenge
PRESS RELEASE: BRAZIL WINS INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE
“To compete at home gives me even more motivation. I am really happy to see the benches full with people that have supported me since I was a child. I think I only get nervous really when my father is present”, said Nacif Elias Jr, silver medallist at the Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro in 2009 and judoka of the national team at the World Championship in Holland, in August. Born in Espírito Santo, the athlete was harassed by fans and media who crowed the gymnasium Jones dos Santos Neves to watch the Challenge.
The Brazilian team took part in the Challenge with Ricardo Ayres (60kg), Leandro Cunha (66kg), Marcelo Contini (73kg), Nacif Elias Jr (81kg), Felipe Oliveira (90kg), Luciano Correa (100kg) e Walter Santos (+100kg) and was lead by the coach Luiz Shinohara. The Argentineans and North Americans arrived in Brazil last week to take part in both Challenges in Mariangá and Vitória and in the training camp involving the three countries, besides other guests.
“Our main objective is to get the athletes used to competing in front of an audience and transform the pressure in outcome”, commented the coach. “I see the results as positive in Maringá as well as in Vitória, even regarding the training sessions, which are very important to the youngest athletes such as this team”, Shinohara added.
Luciano Correa’s, world champion in 2007, sees the competition as preparation for the rest of the season.
“Getting the rhythm of fighting is essential and I face these friendly fights as a good practice for the Grand Slam in Tokyo in December”, said Luciano, who also complimented the supporters and his opponents. “The Argentineans are one of our main adversaries in the continent and fighting against them is always very though. They have proven that they have a good team by defeating the United States easily. The supporters here in Vitoria deserve also to be congratulated, they put on a good show”, said the judoka.
The International Challenge happens simultaneously with the Brazilian Senior Championship. On Saturday, the 2009 winners of the +100kg, 100kg, 90kg, 81kg, 73kg, + 78kg, 78kg, 70kg, 63kg and 57kg were announced. On Sunday there were disputes of the 66kg, 60kg, 55kg, 52kg, 48kg e 44kg. Back on the tatamis after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Edinanci Silva was the champion of the -100kg. The other champions of the first day of competitions were: Katherine Campos (57kg), Mariana Barros (63kg), Maria Portela (70kg), Rochelle Nunes (+78kg), Bruno Silva (73kg), Guilherme Luna (81kg), Renan Nunes (90kg), Leonardo Leite (100kg) and Rafael Silva (+100kg). The complete and updated list of the results of Saturday and Sunday can be found at www.cbj.com.br .
BRAZIL 4 X 2 ARGENTINA
+100kg: Walter Santos defeated Hector Campos by ippon
-100kg: Luciano Correa defeated Christian Schmidt by ippon
-90kg: Felipe Oliveira lost to Diego Rosati by ippon
-81kg: Nacif Elias defeated Emanuel Lucentti by ippon
-73kg: Marcelo Contini defeated Alejandro Clara by ippon
-66kg: Leandro Cunha tied with Miguel Albarracin
-60kg: Ricardo Ayres lost to Diego Rodriguez por ippon
ARGENTINA 7 X 0 USA
+100kg:Hector Campos defeated Shintaro Higasgi by ippon
-100kg:Christian Schmidt defeated Jacob Larsen by ippon
-90kg: Diego Rosati won by WO
-81kg: Emanuel Lucentti won by WO
-73kg: Giano Calatrone defeated Alfred Raymond by ippon
-66kg: Miguel Albarracin defeated Julio Cesar Rodriguez Jr by ippon
-60kg: Diego Rodriguez defeated Victor Domingues by ippon
BRASIL 6 X 1 USA (SATURDAY)
-60kg: Ricardo Ayres defeated by ippon Victor Domingues
-66kg: Leandro Cunha defeated by waza-ari Julio Cezar Rodrigues
-73kg: Marcelo Contini defeated by waza-ari Alfred Raymond
-81kg: Nacif Elias defeated by ippon Jonathan Fernandez
-90kg: Felipe Oliveira lost by waza-ari para to Jacob Larsen
-100kg: Luciano Correa defeated by ippon Shintaro Higashi
+100kg: Walter Santos won by WO
