The Ecuadorian judoka debuted with a defeat in the round of 32 of the 78 kilograms category against the Ukrainian Anastasiya Turchyn. Vanessa Chalá was eliminated from the Tokyo Olympics.
Vanessa Chalá lost by ippon. In other words, the Ecuadorian put her whole back on the tatami after an attack by the Ukrainian judoka.
The combat of this Wednesday, July 28, lasted just three minutes 42 seconds and the Ecuadorian’s Olympic dream ended.
This is the first Olympic experience for Chalá. At 33 years old, the judoka is the current two-time Pan-American champion, after the titles obtained in Mexico in 2020 and 2021.
In addition, in April 2021, it obtained the bronze medal in the Grand Slam tournament from Turkey. It was the first time that an Ecuadorian took the podium in an event of this category.
At the Pan American Games in Lima 2019, the ibarreña won the bronze medal. In Toronto 2015 it was ranked fifth. That same year, Chalá obtained five titles in Pan American Open Championships in Santo Domingo, Quito, Santiago, Córdoba and Lima.
Judo at the Olympics
Judo was introduced to the Olympic program for the first time in the Tokyo Games 1964 and it took place at the Nippon Budokan. This same venue has been chosen for these Olympic Games in 2021.
The goal of sport is knock down the opponent and put him completely on his back to the tatami. This is termed as an Ippon and the judoka who succeeds in this maneuver will win immediately.
In case of not completing an Ippon, the competitor can take a waza-ari or half point. Two waza-aris are also enough to declare a winner.
In case of completing the four minutes of fight, and if the scores are tied, the match goes to overtime and the first competitor to get a point wins.
