• Submitted by: admin
• Sports
• 04 / 08 / 2010

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After two years away from tatamis, the Olympic runner-up of the 2008 Beijing Games and the Best Sportswoman of Cuba that same year, Yalennis Castillo, of Holguin, will come back to elite events this weekend at the Pan American Judo Championship, with venue in El Salvador.

With the comeback of the eastern athlete will allow Cuba to have five Olympic medallists in the coming continental showcase, foreseen from April 9-11 and that will serve to continue accumulating points for the ranking, which will grant two tickets
for the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara.

Castillo did not compete in international events since her silver medal won in the Chinese contest, because she underwent several surgical operations on her knee, from which she’s fully recovered now. “It has been a tough and long process, but finally successful”, she declared.

Because of the rivalry in her category and the 7th world place of her teammate Kaliesma Antomachin, many thought it would be complex for her to return to 78 kg in the national squad, but the charismatic judoka replied bluntly.

“I do not have to be worried but others, because this is the division in which I won my greatest sports glory and where I will continue. In addition, my weight is very well and the technical direction of the team has always trusted me”, said the also Pan Am champion.

Other medal-winners at summer events, who travel to EL Salvador on Wednesday are Yanet Bermoy (52 kg), Yurisleidis Lupetey (57 kg) and Idalis Ortiz (+78 kg), who will be accompanied by such outstanding athletes as Onix Cortes (70 kg), Yaritza Abel (63 kg) and Dayaris Mestre (48 kg).

Among men, Oscar Braison (+100 kg), Olympic bronze medallist in 2008 and world silver medallist in 2009, heads the male squad to the Pan Am tournament, where he’s favorite to revalidate his crown picked in Argentina a year ago.

The team also includes such recent national champions as Yasmani Piker (60 kg), Janiel Peña (66 kg), Ronald Girones (73 kg), Osmay Cruz (81 kg), Asley González (90 kg) and Oreidis Despaigne (100 kg), all with big chances to climb onto the podium.

Small divisions were precisely the most difficult to make up the team, thus commented head coach Justo Noda, who recalled the Island won two crowns in the previous tournament, likely to be equaled or surpassed now, “because the boys are in excellent shape, led by Braison”.

Cuba’s major objective is to keep the first place clinched in Argentina a year ago.

By Joel García

Source: Cubasi.com