The Brazilian Judo Team Boards on Tuesday for the Grand Prix of Dusseldorf
The team will be represented by 22 athletes, both experienced and newcomers.
While revelers enjoy the last day of Carnival in Brazil, the judokas of the Brazilian team board on Tuesday, February 17th to Germany, where they will take part in the Grand Prix Dusseldorf. The event marks the beginning of the IJF World Circuit 2015 which also includes 11 more GP's. The fights will take place over the weekend, between 20th and 22nd February at Mitsubishi Electric Halle.
Brazil will be represented by 22 athletes: Sarah Menezes (48kg), Gabriela Chibana (48kg), Erika Miranda (52kg), Jessica Pereira (52kg), Rafaela Silva (57kg), Ketleyn Quadros (57kg), Mariana Silva (63kg) Danielle Karla Oliveira (63kg), Barbara Timo (70kg), Samanta Soares (78kg) and Rochelle Nunes (+ 78kg); Eric Takabatake (60kg), Phelipe Pelim (60kg), Ricardo Santos Jr (66kg), Alex Pombo (73kg), Marcelo Contini (73kg), Leandro Guilheiro (81kg), Felipe Costa (81kg), Eduardo Bettoni (90kg), Luciano Corrêa (100kg), Rafael Buzacarini (100kg) and Walter Santos (+ 100kg).
In 2014, the country came back from Germany with five medals. A gold award won by Luciano Correa (100kg) and four bronze medals got by Rafael Buzacarini (100kg), Rafael Silva (+ 100kg), Erika Miranda (52 kg) and Ketleyn Quadros(57kg).
This year, in addition to these experienced athletes who already reached the podium of Dusseldorf, the Brazilian team will also consist of a new generation of young people such as Danielle Karla Oliveira and Ricardo Santos Jr., who have just got in the main team after winning the last Selective held in 2014.
"I'm anxious because it is my first competition as a senior," confesses the rookie Danielle, also highlighting the confidence to compete. "I feel well prepared to do my best. That's my biggest goal, always give my best. I hope only to find the best opponents. I know it will not be easy, but it's not impossible."
According to the event’s agenda, the draw of the keys happens on Thursday, February 19th, at 17h GMT. The first to enter the mat will be the 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg and 70kg women’s team and the 60kg, 66kg, 73kg and 81kg men’s on Friday. On Saturday, the women's 78kg and + 78kg and the men's 90kg, 100kg and 100kg +will compete. The end of these five categories will be on Sunday, the last day of competitions.
The selection will be staying in Germany until February 26th for the Training Camp in Dusseldorf. Then the women's team, except for Erika Miranda, Rafaela Silva and Sarah Menezes, will dispute the Open Prague, while the men go to Poland for the Open Warsaw, coming back home on March 2nd.
