The eyes of judo worldwide will be on Guayaquil for five days, when at 11:00 this Wednesday, August 10, the competitions of the Junior World Cup of this sport that will have as its strategic headquarters the renovated coliseum Voltaire Paladins Polonorth of the city.
In total they will be 378 judokas from 63 countries from the 5 continents, which will compete until August 14, in seven weight classesboth in ladies and men.
It is the first time in the history of local sports that an event of this magnitude and in this discipline reaches the country, hence the expectation that it has generated, since they are judokas of between 15 and 20 years old (born between 2002 and 2007) those who seek to add olympic ranking points.
“Guayaquil is the perfect location; For centuries it has been an international port, receiving visitors from all continents throughout its history,” he specified. Marius Vizerpresident of the International Judo Federationwho along with several of the international delegations have been in the city since last weekend.
For Ecuador, the team that will defend the locality will be made up of 28 judokas, 15 men and 13 womenwho will try to keep the medals at home.
In the tricolor male payroll consists of Ian Mendoza, Brian Rivera and Luis Pacheco in the -60 kg; Kevin Ayala and Alexander Simbana (-66 kg), Kevin Guaraca, Mathias Coronel and Pedro Espinoza (-73 kg); as well as Harold Suarez and Dikerson Yumiseba in the -81 kg; Pablo Arias and Steven Colorado (-90 kg) and Darwin Mercado, Robinson Loaiza and Erick Barahona in the -100 kg.
already in the female team Erika Jara, Blanca Chalá and Laura Vásquez will be in the -48 kg; Scheccid Rivera (-52 kg); Astrid Gavidia and Scarlet Salamar (-57 kg), Antonella Ludena and Briyhith Morales (-63 kg), Nicole Chávez (-70 kg); Genesis Criollo, Scarleth Arellano and Verónica Saltos and Nayli León (-78 kg).
For many this will be their world first experiencewhile others are already looking to make the leap to the senior category.
In addition to the medals and points in the Olympic ranking, those who get on the podium will have financial prizes. For example, a gold medal in each of the categories will be accompanied by a prize of $2,000 for the athlete and $500 corresponding to the coach.
