Cuba warmed up for PanAm Judo Championships in April

The Pan American Judo Championships in Havana welcomes more than 200 judoka from 25 countries of the continent. The event will be held from April 28 to 30. Brazil, Canada, Mexico, US and Argentina, with 18 representatives each, will be the foreign nations with a bigger presence.

The best Panamerican judo icons will fight such as Olympic and World Champion in the 78 kilograms, Kayla Harrison (USA), who is also leader of the world ranking, the three-time World Champion in the 70kg, Yuri Alvear (Colombia), Argentinean Paula Pareto, Champion of the world in 48kg and Cuban Idalys Ortiz, Champion of the world and Olympic Champ in the O78kg category.

The men's competition will see stars such as Asley Gonzalez (90kg), Jose Armenteros (100kg) from Cuba, Antoine Valois-Fortier (Canada, 81kg), Travis Stevens (81kg), Brazilian Felipe Kitadai (60kg), Victor Peñalber (81kg), Luciano Correa (100kg), Rafael Silva and David Moura (O100kg) in action.

Cuba will compete with Dayaris Mestre (48kg) and Maricet Espinosa (63kg) on women and Magdiel Estrada (73kg) and Alex García (O100kg) between the men, four judoka with good positions in the world ranking, classifying for the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro in August.

Also appearing there are Onix Cortes (70kg), Yalennis Castillo (78kg) and Iván Silva, who could enter the groups privileged to the summer appointment in accordance with its results in the contest.

Completing the payroll, Melissa Hurtado (48kg), Gretel Romero (52kg), Anailis Dorvigni (57kg), Kaliema Antomarchi (78kg), Yandry Torres (60kg), Carlos Tondique and Gilberto Solar (66kg), Jorge Martínez (81kg) and Andy Granda (100kg).