Was nervous. Despite being 15 years old, Laura Vasquez She was pigeonholed among 18 to 20-year-old athletes, but she wasn’t about to miss out on such an experience. And it is that her name is mentioned on the tatami of a Junior Judo World Cup it was priceless, and she was willing to take ‘the risk’.
Ana Vivar, for the third consecutive stage as the best foreigner in Colombia
Read more
medalist of silver at the South American Youth Games last May, the woman from Guayaquil faced Antona Gómez, from Spain, in -48 kilograms. A few movements were enough for the tricolor to face the mat. She lacked “aggressiveness and strength.” This was recognized by the same athlete after falling for Ippon in the preliminary round that however left him with good feelings.
“I’m just starting out in the sport, I have a whole career ahead of me. It is my first world cup, as well as many here. I competed in a category that is not mine (from 15 to 17 years old), but from 18 to 20, so I leave grateful and proud to represent the country in a championship like this”, stated Vásquez satisfied, but thoughtful.
Like Laura, there are several athletes who attend a major event for the first time, which in this case brings together 378 athletes from 63 countriesHence, everyone values participation beyond the result.
In the morning session of this Thursday, August 11, for Ecuador, seven tricolor representatives competed. The Colisseum Voltaire Paladins Pole of Guayaquilvenue of the tournament, with three tatamis, this time it hosted the crossings of the female categories of -57 and -63 kg, and the male of -73 kg.
Alexander Cepeda moves to the EF team for a full season on the World Tour
Read more
There was not much luck in the results. Kevin Guaraca (-73 kg), Pedro Espinoza (-73 kg), Mathias Coronel (-73 kg), Scarlet Salamar (-57 kg), Astrid Gavidia (-57 kg), Briyhith Morales (-63 kg) and Antonella Ludeña (-63 kg) they lost by ippon in their first confrontation and none of the participants qualified for the playoff, which only those eliminated in the quarterfinals and semifinals have access to to win two bronze medals.
It should be noted that the Ecuadorian Coronel was classified directly to the second round because he was the judoka #21 in the world in their division and have obtained a top seed in the championship. Another fact that he highlighted, this time with a negative tint, was that Ludeña, from Cañare, was injured with the maneuver that her rival made to knock her down and take the victory; The young woman had to be removed on a stretcher due to ailments in her left knee while she received an ovation from the stands for representing the country.
The medal table, after the first day of competition, placed Japan in first place with two gold medals. behind follows Italia with a gold and a silver medal, and closes the podium Tajikistan with only one gold. The event still has three more days ahead of it where the heaviest weight categories will compete for glory.
