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Power, that showed the Cuban judo by registering in four of the seven finals of the day and crowning two champions in the I Junior Pan American Games headquartered in the Colombian city of Cali.
The day progressed happily for the four Antillean representatives. From the distant municipality of Jamundí came flattering news. One victory after another confirmed the promise of a calendar that on Friday had left us the bronze medals of Kimy Bravo and Thailién Castillo.
As night fell, the first two finals were lost, with Iledannis Gómez, in 70 kilograms (kg) and Sergueis Rodríguez (90). But when the sun had turned off behind the Caleñas coordinators, two giants “swallowed the tatami with rivals and everything”: Thalia Narino (over 78 kg) and Omar cruz (other 100 kg).
Gómez had scored in the golden dispute with successes in succession over the Dominican Crevmartin Valdez and the Puerto Rican Zairv Zoe Colón. For the gold she came out aggressive and with the initiative, but a tactical error condemned her against the Brazilian Luana Oliveira.
Rodriguez arranged in the round of 16 of the Rio de Janeiro Victor Da Silva, in the quarterfinals of the Paraguayan Ángel Antonio Gini, and in the semifinals of the Venezuelan Juan Lorenzo Díaz. Then, for the gold, he saw the American Alexander Knauf ahead, strong and above all agile.
The Cuban tried to take the initiative in the fight and look for a good grip on the lapel, but the Northerner found a way to deliver a perfect ippon. End of story.
Needless to say, after two defeats at the gates of glory, the good Cuban bar began to get restless in the stands. Then two big guys showed up and put our cravings for gold in its place.
Nariño had celebrated two successes before the decisive fight: against the Venezuelan Amarantha Urdaneta and the Ecuadorian Sandy Patricia Ango. For the crown, he appeared before the Dominican Moira Murillo and was always superior, until he was given ippon.
Gold medal for Cuban judoka Thalía Nariño at the Junior Pan American Games in #Cali2021 Here his statements. #Cuba pic.twitter.com/mNao4xW9Mh
– JIT Cuban Sports (@jit_digital) November 27, 2021
“I feel very good and grateful to the team of coaches from the base. This gold medal was not easy because I had to sacrifice a lot in training and the rivals were not easy. It is worth recognizing the good work everyone did here. I’m very happy, ”the girl said excitedly before several journalists from the Caribbean nation.
Urged to send a message to the Olympic and world multi-medalist in her division, Idalys Ortiz, Nariño said: “to thank her for many things, she has helped me, she has corrected me, she also contributed her grain of sand.”
Finally, the brand new champion wanted to send “my regards to Cuba. I fought for them, for my people, for my country, to move my country forward and represent it ”.
Shortly after, it was the turn of the tough Cruz, intimidating from the exit of the changing rooms. His strength and quality were victims in the morning the Dominican Gabriel Antonio Marte, the Aztec Omar Martir and the American Christian Konoval. One more share of that power fell to Argentine Joaquín Alejo to suffer for the gold.
Gold medal for Cuban judoka Omar Cruz. Here at the Junior Pan American Games in #Cali2021 Here his statements. pic.twitter.com/JPbWoO81om
– JIT Cuban Sports (@jit_digital) November 27, 2021
With short but very secure sentences, Cruz responded to questions from the press in the mixed zone. “I am very happy with this result, very happy to win this medal. It has been too much sacrifice, I have been preparing for the national team for eight months and it was very hard.
“I want to thank all the people who supported me,” he said in principle.
Then they suggested the resemblance to his great idol, Frenchman Teddy Riner, and the answer could not have been more challenging: “I think I can be better than him.” We’ll see.
This Sunday the judo event concludes with the team competition. At this moment, the medal table shows Brazil as the leader with a metallic triad of 5-1-4, followed by Cuba (2-2-2), the United States (2-1-3) and Venezuela (2-1-2).
Taken from Jit
