Panamanian judokas go for their points to the Dominican Republic

The Panamanian judo representation will seek to add the maximum number of points for the ranking in Dominican Republic, to maintain their chances of qualifying the Central American and Caribbean Gamese 2023, as well as the Pan American Games of Santiago 2023 in Chile.

The tournament in the Caribbean country will take place between April 18 and 23, but the Panamanians will compete on April 20.

Until now Panama has four judokas in the classification zone for the games Central American and Caribbean 2023 that will take place in El Salvador and they are: Kristine Jiménez in the category of (-57 kg), Lilian Cordones (-52 kg), Mario Cordones (-66 kg) and Alexis Harrison (81 kg).

The important thing is that our athletes can obtain the maximum number of points, ratify themselves in the ranking to classify the Central American and Caribbean Games 2023explained Estela Riley, president of the United Federation of Judo of Panama.

Riley added that Panamanian judo seeks to have at least 6 or 7 athletes for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.

In addition to Kristine Jimenez, Cordones and Harrison, The leader added that she hopes they will remain in the qualification for the Central American and Caribbean Games and also be able to include Manuel Velasquez in (-100kg), Bernabe Veragara (.60 kg), the latter would also have to look for their classification by points in Dominican Republic.

The tournament in the land of merengue is competitive, demanding and that is why it is important that the Panamanians can maintain themselves, add points, added Riley.

National athletes have been preparing for the tournament on Caribbean lands, participating in different competitions such as the Open Medellin in Colombia, Open Cuba, a tournament where Lilian Cordones won gold and Christine Jimenez got bronze.

The Panamanian delegation that traveled this Tuesday to Dominican Republic It is made up of: K.Ristine Jiménez in (-52 kg), Nemesis Candelo (-52), Lilian Cordones (-52 kg), Manuela Fernández (-63 kg), Bernabé Vergara (-60 kg), Mario Cordones (-66 kg), Ronal González (-73 kg), Alexis Harrison (-81 kg) and Manuel Velásquez (-100 kg), together with the trainers Librada Alvarado and Amado Molina and the delegate Milvia Mendoza.

After the Dominican tournament, the athletes Bernabe Vergara, Alexis Harrison, Lilian Cordones and Kristine Jimenez They will remain in a camp on Caribbean lands until April 30.

In the camp there will be athletes from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia and the Dominican Republicamong others.

Estela Riley added that for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, Panama has Kristine Jiménez, Bernabé Vergara and Lilian Cordones.

The president of Panamanian judo reiterated that the most important thing is to be able to score points, stay in the classification ranking and the Open Guayaquil tournaments in Ecuador in July are still pending, such as the Judo Pan American in Canada in September, these tournaments award ranking points to reach the Pan American Games of Santiago 2023 in Chile.