• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 02 / 08 / 2011

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2011.02.07 - 14:12:40 / radiorebelde.JudoHAVANA, CUBA.- The Cuban head coach of the national judo team (women’s) Ronaldo Veitia said he was satisfied with the squad’s performance in the Paris Grand Slam, where they finished in the ninth position.

Veitia told ACN news agency that 81 countries attended the strong tournament, bringing some of them Olympic and world medallists, and still his pupils won two bronze medals and a fifth place, as well as points for the world ranking.

The two bronze medals went for Idalis Ortiz and Damaris Mestre, in the + 78 and 48 kilogram divisions, respectively; a performance that gave them 120 points for the ranking which will give positions for the 2012 Olympics to be held in London.

Yalennis Castillo (78) finished fifth and earned 60 points, said Veitia.

Castillo and Ortiz won 2 and lost one bout, while Mestre won 3 and lost one as well.

The Cuban women fought 18 times, and won 11.

Japan ruled the standings with 5 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals, followed by France (5-1-6) and Holland (1-1-1).

The Cuban team had won previously the Arlon Open in Belgium, its first stop in its European tour. There they won 5 gold medals and two silver ones.(ACN)