Mikael Aprahamian will be the only representative of Uruguayan judo at the Pan American Games from Santiago that begin in ten days.
After closing 2021, the year of his Olympic debut, with a knee injury, Aprahamian had a notable 2023 at the Pan American Open where he won a bronze medal in Havana, silver in Santiago and bronze in Córdoba and Guayaquil.
“Preparation is good, I’m going to go very confident, I had very good participation in those Open and many competitors are going to be in the Games. I’m trying new things that are coming my way. It was a long process after the 2021 operation, I was improving day by day and I am very happy with the path we are taking,” Aprahamian told Referee.
“My coach and I set several objectives for the Olympic cycle and qualifying for the Pan American Games was one of them. The goal will always be to get a medal, to be as high as possible on the podium and to leave everything for my country. I am very confident that I can achieve it. It is also a goal to grow, to continue evolving,” said the person who will compete in the -81 kilos category.
“The competitors are all from the World Tour, we have faced each other mainly in America, but also internationally. I have had good performances with them which It feeds my ego, which you also have to have. I feel like I can beat everyone, to anyone, number one, number two, number 39 or number 100 in the ranking. “I trust what I have and I go up against anyone with that confidence and knowing that if I do things well I will get a good result.”
The Pan American Games do not add points for the Olympic ranking nor do they qualify for Paris 2024. “But it is very special to be able to share it with other Uruguayan athletes,” said the judoka.
“I competed many times in Santiago, the last one was in June, I came second, I lost the final with a Brazilian, and I had good fights before. It is a good venue for me,” he said, adding another point in favor of his presence in the capital of Chili.
2023-10-10 08:47:13
#feel #beat
