The Brazilian Judokas Win Four Gold Medals in the CPLP Games
The four Brazilians called by the Brazilian Confederation of School Sports (BCSS) for the IX Games of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (PSCC) reached the podium’s highest place. The games, which aim is to strengthen the relations between the seven Portuguese-speaking countries, are being run in Luanda, capital of Angola, until next Sunday. Only under 16 years old athletes can participate in the event.
The young Brazilian athletes performed a show. Gabriela Clemente (48kg) was the champion, followed by the Portuguese Patricia Matias, the Mozambican Natália Taju and the Angolan Teresa Miguel. In the heavyweight category (+70 kg), Viviane Motta overcame the Portuguese Inês Moreira and the Angolan Juliana Manuel and so she took the title.
In the men’s weight categories, Bruno Watanabe (55kg) scored 25 points, five more than the Angolan Acacio Cassule and 10 more than the Portuguese Francisco Mendes. But the story could be different as the fight against the home athlete was hard.
"It was very difficult! I almost lost the first fight but I pulled myself through and I scored an ippon! This title is the result of all the effort and dedication as well as many people’s support. I have no words to say how happy I am, " Bruno Watanabe said.
The last gold was brought by Jefferson Santos Junior in the up-to-66 kilos category. The podium was reached also by the Portuguese David Reis, the Mozambican Kelvin Loforte and the Angolan Jonathan Kiala. The team was joined by the coaches Paulino Namieand Paulo Ferraz Alvim.
The Sports Games of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community is a multi-sport event that involves all members of the CPLP: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor. Although the concept is similar to the Lusophone Games, in the Sports Games can register only under 16 years old athletes. The goal is the same as the community’s: strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between countries.
The first edition of the Sports Games of the Portuguese Speaking Countries was held in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, in September 1993. They were attended by about 500 young people of both genders, 15-16 years old, coming from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Sao Tome and Principe.
Brazil hosted the event only once, in 2008. Bissau (1995), Maputo (1997), Cidade da Praia (2002), Luanda (2005), Maputo (2010) and Mafra (2012) are the other cities that hosted the event. Besides judo, athletics, athletics for PCDs, tennis, table tennis, beach volleyball, swimming, football, men's basketball and women's handball will be played. Overall, the Brazilian delegation will be composed of around 110 people.
