Peruvian judoka Carla León claimed the gold medal in the -48 kg division at the Copa Panamericana Junior Florida 2026 in the United States, defeating American competitor Linda Dervisoglu in the final. The victory elevated the national representative to the highest step of the podium in a tournament that gathered top exponents of judo across the Americas, while teammate Hilary Lam secured a fifth-place finish in the -57 kg category.
The Federación Deportiva Peruana de Judo (FDPJ) maintains its focus on a responsible generational shift across cadet, juvenile, and junior ranks while keeping active competition for the senior division with an eye toward the Juegos Panamericanos Lima 2027. Hemos participado hace poco en la Copa Panamericana Junior Florida 2026 que se desarrolló en Estados Unidos de Norteamérica con una medalla de oro y ya estamos listos para el Open Panamericano de Mayores
, stated María Martínez, president of Judo Perú.
Delegation and Coaching Staff for United States Competitions
Following the junior event, the national selection prepared to compete in the Open Panamericano Florida 2026 scheduled for Saturday, October 31, in the United States. The delegation comprises four athletes: Carla León in the -48 kg division, Hilary Lam in -57 kg, Alonso Wong in -73 kg, and Daryl Yamamoto in -100 kg. Peruvian coach Luis Angeles Sotelo leads the squad.
En la Federación de Judo apostamos por el cambio generacional responsable para no dejar brechas
, declared María Martínez Murciego regarding the institution’s ongoing strategy to support athletes. The president also acknowledged the backing received from the Instituto Peruano del Deporte for the preparation of the nation’s competitors.
Senior Category Focus and Upcoming Calendar
Although the federation emphasizes development without leaving gaps in younger categories, leadership confirmed that senior competitors remain a priority due to the demanding schedule ahead. Pero tampoco descuidamos a la categoría mayor porque tenemos eventos muy importante este año que queda y el 2027
, added Martínez Murciego, pointing to upcoming sporting commitments leading into the Pan American Games.
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