Cuban judo already glimpses the first stop of its competitive calendar this year, when from the 11th to the 13th six figures, three for each sex, will participate in the Master in Doha, Qatar. The Creoles will come out onto the tatami with a sideways gaze on the Tokyo Olympics next summer, where they will go with the ambition of seeing at least a couple of exponents climb the awards podium.
In the case of the women’s team, it has three judocas classified for the great multisport event, led by the Artemiseña of more than 78 kilograms (kg) Idalys Ortiz, who will be accompanied by Maylin del Toro (63 kg) and Kaliema Antomarchi (78 kg) . This triad, for different reasons, was absent last September from the Cuban Judo Champions Gala, more loaded with the main hopes of coach Yordanis Arencibia.
“In this gala there was a lot of rivalry between the judokas of each division and we appreciate that despite the period of the pandemic, which affected us a lot, the athletes have been working and joining the usual routine quickly. We are valuing everything and focused on the Olympic Games, but also with our eyes set on the Central Americans of the following year, “Arencibia said exclusively for JR.
He added the bronze medalist under the five rings and now head of coaches of the national women’s judo team, that in addition to the Olympics, this year among the priorities of their leaders are the first Youth Pan American Games, to be held in September in the city Colombian from Cali.
“For Tokyo we are trying to incorporate an athlete weighing 57 kilograms, so far Arnaes Odelín, who is the one who has achieved enough points to at least aspire. The most important thing until June is to reach the top of the ranking and attend the contest, then wait for a good draw and work as best as possible to find the results we want, which are medals, ”explained Arencibia.
Regarding the current state of its main figure, Idalys Ortiz, the coach said that “physically he is well, we are working, but things are still missing because we have a short period of preparation as a team. She unfortunately had the loss of her father and that is something that has undoubtedly affected her psychologically, but she is strong and has been incorporated with total dedication. We are focused and strategizing to get to the Olympic Games as best we can. “
Finally, the world runner-up in Rio de Janeiro 2007 referred to the responsibility it represents for him to assume a position held for many years by Ronaldo Veitía. “It is a big challenge, but I am used to big challenges since I was an athlete,” he said before concluding that “I am working to find new relief, the girls are training very hard and we will always try to do our best to stay in the field. top to our female judo ».
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