Peru surprises at PanAm Open in Lima with three titles

Peru was the strongest nation at the PanAm Open in Lima with three gold medals and 7 finals in total. Peru took two gold medals for Marian Flores U57kg and heavyweights Valentino Valdivia +100kg and Yuliana Bolivar +78kg Brazil follows with three titles and 5 finals in total. Belgian Ellen Salens opened on Saturday U48kg with gold. Jessica Pereira of Brazil took gold U52kg.

Mexican World medallist Prisca Awiti took the title for women U63kg. Canadian judoka Isabelle Harris won a silver medal in the under-63 kg weight category at the Pan-American Open in Lima, Peru.

In the gold medal final, she was defeated by Prisca Awiti Alcaraz of Mexico. Despite not winning gold, Harris was pleased with her performance and earned a qualification for the Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile, later that year.

Brazilians Samanta Soares and Alexia Castilhos took gold for their country U78kg and U70kg.

On the final day of the tournament, Canada had a strong showing, collecting five medals. Alexandre Arencibia won gold in the under-90 kg weight category, defeating Yuta Galarreta of Peru in the final. It was Arencibia's first senior gold medal and a good preparation for the upcoming Jeux de la Francophonie.

In the same weight category, Keagan Young also competed and earned a medal, finishing in third place. David Popovici won bronze in the under-81 kg category, bouncing back after an initial loss.

Cuba ended strong with three gold medals in the men’s divisions. American Nate Keeve took gold for men U100kg.