Montreal Tournament Plans Collapsed
Jonathan Charón, Lianet Cardona, Dayanara Curbelo, and Orlando Polanco left the Cuban delegation after winning four gold medals and two silver medals at the Pan American Open in Florida, as 14ymedio.com reported.
Those departures forced the Cuban Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Federation to scrap its travel plans for Canada. No athletes from the island made the trip to the Pan American Open in Montreal, which concludes on Monday.
Loss of International Competition
Alain Fernández Casero warned that the sport on the island keeps losing chances to compete abroad, gain experience, and gather ranking points, according to 14ymedio.com. The coach added that athletes need stability and proper planning for their careers.
That tournament in Montreal offers points for the International Judo Federation ranking. It also serves as a qualifier for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, as noted by 14ymedio.com.
Pressure Behind the Departures
Roly Dámaso wrote on social media that years of intense training and family sacrifices often lead to departures when athletes lack local prospects, 14ymedio.com reported. The retired wrestler stated that international competitors sign professional deals and build stable futures, unlike athletes restricted by administrative hurdles in Cuba.
Sporting authorities maintained strict silence regarding the departures, as reported by 14ymedio.com. The state-run newspaper Juventud Rebelde noted that federative officials had initially registered 13 competitors for the Canadian competition before calling off the trip entirely.
Athletes Left Ashore
Only two competitors from the Florida event returned to Havana on Thursday: world medalists and Gainesville champions Andy Granda and Iván Silva, according to journalist Raúl Rodríguez via 14ymedio.com.
Juventud Rebelde expressed regret that the canceled trip also sidelines five other selected judokas. Amado Montes, Rubén Romero, Anisleidys Ur, Yainet Coronado, and Marlon Herrera missed out on international action due to the federation’s decision.
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