The Meta Judo League secured a total of four medals at the recent National Championship held in Ibagué, Tolima, showcasing competitive depth across multiple youth and cadet divisions. The delegation returned with one silver medal, earned by the men’s team in the team event, and three individual bronze medals.
Individual Medalists in Ibagué
The Meta judokas delivered strong performances across the sub-15 and cadet categories during the tournament. Sara Acosta claimed a bronze medal in the women’s under-57 kilogram division, while Sebastián León secured a bronze in the men’s under-40 kilogram category. Rounding out the podium finishes, César Pérez took home the bronze in the men’s under-81 kilogram cadet division.
Beyond the medalists, the Meta delegation featured several other athletes who competed throughout the championship, including Gerónimo Pérez and Matías Gómez in the cadet category, and Daniel Viracachá in the sub-13 division. All participating athletes competed under the guidance of departmental coach Carlos Moya.
Financial Hurdles for 2027 National Games Qualification
Despite the success in Ibagué, the future of the Meta judo team’s campaign for the 2027 National Games remains uncertain. Coach Carlos Moya expressed concern regarding the team’s ability to attend the third qualifying tournament, which is scheduled for October 14–18 in Palmira, Valle del Cauca.
The primary obstacle is a lack of defined financial support from Idermeta, the departmental sports institute. According to Moya, the Colombian Judo Federation requires athletes to compete in at least two of the four scheduled qualifiers to be eligible for the National Games. With the third qualifier approaching, the coach emphasized that the athletes must participate and secure necessary results in these events to maintain their path toward the national competition.
Next Steps for Meta Judo
The team’s immediate priority is the third qualifying tournament in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, set for October 14–18. Whether the Meta delegation can secure the necessary funding from Idermeta to finalize their travel and registration for this event remains the critical checkpoint for their 2027 National Games qualification cycle.
