Mexico’s national judo squad has intensified its physical, technical, and mental preparation at Villas Tlalpan and the National Center for Talent Development and High Performance (CNAR) ahead of the “Daniel F. Hernández” National Judo Championship, scheduled for October 15–18 in Querétaro, Hoy Tamaulipas reported. The tournament serves as a primary filter to shape the national team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, bringing together first-force athletes, Under-18 and Under-21 categories, and preselected competitors from various states under the technical coordination of the Mexican Judo Federation (FMJ).
Training Loads and Randori Practice at CNAR
National coach Jorge Luis Atencio Ramírez outlined that the training regimen features variable workloads tailored to each athlete’s specific physical and technical demands. Depending on the training phase, athletes complete one, two, or three daily sessions. In recent weeks, the squad has emphasized randori practice matches alongside conditioning drills. Atencio Ramírez noted that results from the Querétaro tournament will establish the national ranking, serving as a primary benchmark to determine which judocas advance in the selection process. In addition to ranking placement, the coaching staff evaluates technical skills, competitive attitude, and tactical intelligence.
Psychological Preparation and National Development
Athletes inside the preselection camp highlighted both the mental demands of the sport and the value of competing on home soil. Judoca Robin Jara emphasized the psychological component of his training routine, describing mental resilience as the vital link uniting his physical and technical preparation. Meanwhile, athlete Paulina Martínez pointed to the significance of hosting major national tournaments in Mexico to strengthen the sport’s domestic development and allow local fans to witness elite competition firsthand.
Medal Success at the Santo Domingo Pan American Open
Ahead of the national qualifiers in Querétaro, Mexican judokas posted strong international results at the Santo Domingo Pan American Open 2026, according to coverage from Oaxaca Informa. The national delegation secured medals across multiple weight classes to accumulate crucial world ranking points on the road to Los Angeles 2028. Official tallies from the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade) reported gold medals for Paulina Martínez in the -52 kilogram division, Robin Jara in -66 kg, and Gilberto Cardoso in -81 kg. Silver medals went to Norma Cárdenas in -78 kg and Jeremy Olivares in -100 kg, while bronze finishes were earned by Kassandra Espinoza and Jade Pérez in -48 kg alongside Eduardo Araujo in -73 kg.
Discrepancies in Official Medal Counts
While the detailed individual breakdown provided by Conade accounts for eight total podium finishes, the initial headline and opening paragraph of the agency’s bulletin referenced seven medals. This minor statistical discrepancy leaves the final official tally of the delegation’s Santo Domingo campaign pending precise administrative confirmation. Nevertheless, the continental event provided valuable competitive mileage and ranking points for athletes striving to secure and defend their spots in the primary weight categories throughout the Olympic cycle.
Querétaro Championship Schedule and Next Steps
The “Daniel F. Hernández” National Championship runs from October 15 through October 18 in Querétaro, where participants will undergo rigorous evaluation to determine selection for upcoming international phases. Competitors must finish near the top of the national standings to maintain eligibility for the national squad as preparations for the Los Ángeles 2028 Olympic Games continue.
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