The Team that Will Be Competing in Astana Grand Prix Has Arrived in Kazakhstan
The Brazilian team that will compete in Astana Grand Prix, on October 10th, 11th and 12th, has arrived today in Kazakhstan. The competition will be attended by 352 athletes, 195 men and 157 women, from 42 countries. Brazil will be represented by 10 judokas. The category of the tournament which is more disputed is the half middleweight one, both men and women, which is the category of the Olympic medalist Leandro Guilheiro, who comes back to mats this tournament after a two year- absence due to a knee injury.
In Kazakhstan, the team will also be composed by Gabriela Chibana (48kg), Nathália Brídgida (48kg), Eleudis Valentim (52kg), Mariana Silva (63kg), Katherine Campos (63kg), Nadia Merli (70kg), Maria Portela (70kg) , Phelipe Pelim (60kg) and Allan Kuwabara (60kg). The coach Mario Sabino will be responsible for the team, together with Hans Peter Strubreiter as the massage therapist.
Last year, Brazil had a good performance in Astana Gran Prix. Alex Pombo (73kg), Ketleyn Quadros (57kg), Mariana Barros (63kg) and Nádia Merli (70kg) became the champions. Mariana Silva (63kg) and Rafael Buzacarini (100kg) were second placed and David Moura (100kg +), Raquel Silva (52kg) and Barbara Timo (70kg) won the bronze award.
The finals take place at 2 am, with the finals at 9am, Brasília time zone.
