Cuban ambitions for Rio promise work to be done

Cuba wants today to take 10 judokas to the 2016 Olympic Games of Rio of Janeiro, said the president of the Cuban National Federation of Judo, Rafael Manso. The ambition promises that a lot of work needs to be done in the next five months. In a meeting with the press, the official showed that the intention is to manage to classify five fighters in each sex, several of them with possibilities of reaching medals in Rio de Janeiro.

In the current World ranking the best 10 Cuban athletes are ranked between 3 and 32, including 2 women U48kg and 2 women U63kg. So it’s up to the athletes to give their best performance at home in La Havana this weekend.

In this aspect, Manso aimed that the Cuban judokas will make a tour along Europe in February, which includes competitions in France, Germany and Italy.

The official said everything is ready to celebrate the Grand Prix of Havana with quality.

The inscriptions showed an increase both in countries (69) and in competitors (428) compared to the 2014 version in the Cuban capital.

The best ranked athlete until this weekend is Olympic Champion Idalys Ortiz (3), followed by Asley Gonzalez (10).

World Ranking Positions

Idalys ORTIZ, 3, +78kg

Asley GONZALEZ, 10, U90kg

Jose ARMENTEROS, 12, U100kg

Dayaris MESTRE ALVAREZ, 20, U48kg

Yalennis CASTILLO, 23, U78kg

Magdiel ESTRADA, 27, U73kg

Maria Celia LABORDE, 29, U48kg

Maricet Espinosa, 29, U63kg

Maylin DEL TORO CARVAJAL, 30, U63kg

Ivan Felipe SILVA MORALES, 32, U81kg

Onix CORTES ALDAMA, 34, U70kg

Yanet BERMOY ACOSTA, 36, U52kg

Aliuska OJEDA, 36, U57kg.

In this situation five athletes are directly qualified due to their position in the Olympic qualification ranking #:

Asley GONZALEZ, 10, U90kg, #8

Jose ARMENTEROS, 12, U100kg, #12

Alex GARCIA MENDOZA, 42, +100kg, #8

Idalys ORTIZ, 3, +78kg, #10

Dayaris MESTRE ALVAREZ, 20, U48kg, #9 continental quota.

Cuba have fulfilled their full home quota of 56 judoka with ease and have called on their Olympic and world medallists in the second edition of the Havana Grand Prix. Olympic and two-time world champion Idalys Ortiz (CUB) will be their top women’s hope with Olympic silver medallist Asley Gonzalez leading the men’s charge. Their remaining 54 teammates are not making up the numbers but rather a mixture of seasoned IJF World Judo Tour competitors with Rio 2016 ambitions and young names targeting a regular place on one of the most renowned teams in the sport.  

Cuba won eight medals at the inaugural Havana Grand Prix in 2014 including two gold medals to finish second in the medal table behind Georgia. More will be expected from the hosts in this new Olympic season and they will be the team to beat.