Judokas Andy Granda and Idalis Ortiz will seek Cuba’s first medals today at the closing of the individual tournament of the World Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with the participation of 658 representatives from 107 countries.
With the seventh place achieved this Wednesday by Iván Silva, in the 90 kilograms (kg), the best performance so far of the largest of the Antilles, Granda (+100 kg) and Idalis (+78 kg) will begin their action against Bubacar Mane, from Guinea Bisáo, and the German Samira Bouizgarne, respectively.
According to the International Federation site www.ijf.org, Jonathan Charón (60 kg), who lost in the second fight, Idelannis Carbonell (52 kg) and Orlando Polanco, in the first, were previously on the way to the medal discussion. , and Maylín del Toro (63 kg), in third.
In Abu, points are distributed for the world ranking (RM) and the Olympic ranking for the Paris 2024 Games, scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11.
Granda is the best placed in the world ranking that defines the Olympic list for the Paris 2024 Games, since he occupies fifth place in his division, followed by Silva (eighth), Idalis (20) and Maylín (23), all in qualifying zone for the Parisian multi-sport event, but the last one for the continental quota.
Charón and Polanco appear further away, both in 42nd place, and Adelannis (59).
Polanco could get the continental quota – one per nation – if Maylín managed to be included in the relationship through the RM that defines the list for the Parisian multi-sport competition.
The mixed team tournament is scheduled for Friday, with events at 73, 90 and more than 90 kg for men and 57, 70 and more than 70 kg for women, and the absence of Cuba so far.
The organizers have so far announced 161 judokas -81 men and 80 women- from 15 countries.
