Andy Granda Reigns Supreme: Cuba Secures Fourth Place at Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships
SANTIAGO – Cuban judoka Andy Granda dominated the +100 kg division,clinching his fifth Pan American-Oceania Judo Championship title. Cuba finished fourth overall in the competition, held in Santiago, with a total of one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals.
Granda’s Golden Performance
Andy Granda (+100 kg) reaffirmed his dominance in the heavyweight division by securing his fifth title at the Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships. Granda defeated Brazil’s Rafael Buzacarini in the final.
Granda’s path to victory included an ippon win against australia’s Kody Andrews and a hansoku-make victory over Dominican republic’s josé Nova in the semifinals. This marks Granda’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament since 2020, excluding the 2021 Guadalajara edition.
Cuban Judo Team Claims Additional Medals
Jonathan Loynaz also contributed to Cuba’s success in the +100 kg category, earning a bronze medal by defeating Mexico’s Sergio del Sol.
Lianet Cardona (78 kg) added another bronze for Cuba, securing an ippon victory in the final seconds against Peru’s Camila Figueroa. Naomis Elizarde (+78 kg) also reached the podium, defeating Karra Hanna of the Bahamas to claim a bronze medal.
Silva’s Disappointment and Other Results
Ivan Silva (100 kg),a promising Cuban athlete,was unable to surpass his previous rival,Robert Florentino from the Dominican Republic,and withdrew from the repechage due to a “technical decision.” He finished in seventh place.
Yilian Carvajal (70 kg) finished fifth after losing the bronze medal match to Venezuela’s Eliana Aguilar. Rubén Romero (81 kg) and Naysdel Cardoso (90 kg) were eliminated in earlier stages of the competition.
Brazil Leads the medal count
Brazil emerged as the dominant force in the championships, securing nine gold medals. standout performances included victories from Gabriel falcao (81 kg), Rafael Macedo (90 kg), and Beatriz Souza (+78 kg). Colombia’s Brenda Olaya (78 kg) and Australia’s Aoife Coughlam (70 kg) also claimed gold medals in their respective categories.
Final standings
Cuba’s performance placed them fourth an enhancement from their showing at the Rio de Janeiro 2024 edition. the final medal table saw Brazil in first place (9 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze), followed by Canada (1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) and the United States (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
How did Cuba’s overall performance in the 2024 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships compare to their previous showing in Rio de Janeiro?
andy Granda Reigns Supreme: Cuba Secures Fourth place at Pan American-Oceania judo Championships
SANTIAGO – Cuban judoka Andy Granda dominated the +100 kg division,clinching his fifth Pan American-Oceania Judo Championship title. Cuba finished fourth overall in the competition, held in Santiago, with a total of one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals.
Granda’s Golden Performance
Andy Granda (+100 kg) reaffirmed his dominance in the heavyweight division by securing his fifth title at the Pan American-Oceania Judo championships. Granda defeated Brazil’s Rafael Buzacarini in the final.
Granda’s path to victory included an ippon win against australia’s Kody Andrews and a hansoku-make victory over Dominican republic’s josé Nova in the semifinals. This marks Granda’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament as 2020, excluding the 2021 Guadalajara edition.
Cuban Judo Team Claims Additional Medals
Jonathan Loynaz also contributed to Cuba’s success in the +100 kg category, earning a bronze medal by defeating Mexico’s Sergio del Sol.
Lianet Cardona (78 kg) added another bronze for Cuba, securing an ippon victory in the final seconds against Peru’s Camila Figueroa.Naomis Elizarde (+78 kg) also reached the podium, defeating Karra Hanna of the Bahamas to claim a bronze medal.
Silva’s Disappointment and Other Results
Ivan Silva (100 kg),a promising Cuban athlete,was unable to surpass his previous rival,Robert Florentino from the Dominican Republic,and withdrew from the repechage due to a “technical decision.” He finished in seventh place.
Yilian Carvajal (70 kg) finished fifth after losing the bronze medal match to Venezuela’s Eliana Aguilar. Rubén Romero (81 kg) and Naysdel Cardoso (90 kg) were eliminated in earlier stages of the competition.
Brazil Leads the medal count
Brazil emerged as the dominant force in the championships, securing nine gold medals.standout performances included victories from Gabriel falcao (81 kg), rafael Macedo (90 kg), and Beatriz Souza (+78 kg). Colombia’s Brenda Olaya (78 kg) and Australia’s Aoife Coughlam (70 kg) also claimed gold medals in their respective categories.
Final standings
Cuba’s performance placed them fourth an enhancement from their showing at the Rio de janeiro 2024 edition. the final medal table saw Brazil in first place (9 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze), followed by Canada (1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) and the United States (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
Q&A: Unpacking the Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships
Q: Who is Andy Granda,and why is his win so significant?
A: Andy Granda is a Cuban judoka competing in the +100 kg (heavyweight) category. His fifth Pan American-Oceania Judo Championship title highlights his sustained dominance in the region, making him a formidable competitor.
Q: What is an “ippon” win?
A: In judo,an “ippon” (meaning “one point”) is an immediate win. It’s achieved when a judoka throws their opponent to the mat with considerable force, control, and speed, or applies a submission hold that forces the opponent to concede. In the article, Granda had an ippon win against Kody Andrews.
Q: What is a “hansoku-make” victory?
A: “Hansoku-make” is a penalty that results in an automatic loss for a judoka. It’s given for serious rule violations. In the article, Granda won against Jose Nova by hansoku-make, meaning Nova was penalized.
Q: How did Cuba perform overall in the championships?
A: Cuba finished in fourth place, with one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals. This represents an improvement from their performance at the Rio de Janeiro 2024 edition.
Q: Who were Cuba’s other medalists?
A: Jonathan Loynaz won a bronze medal in the +100 kg category.Lianet Cardona (78 kg) and Naomis Elizarde (+78 kg) also secured bronze medals.
Q: Who dominated the medal count?
A: Brazil led the medal count, securing nine gold medals, showcasing their strength in the competition.
Q: What is the significance of this championship in the context of the Olympics?
A: The Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships are a crucial step in the olympic qualification process. Performances here affect athletes’ rankings and chances of competing in the Olympics.
Q: What’s next for these judokas?
A: The athletes will likely continue to compete in international tournaments to improve their rankings and prepare for major upcoming events, including the Olympics.
Q: How can I learn more about Judo?
A: Explore the world of Judo on the official International Judo Federation (IJF) website. You can also find local Judo clubs. It’s a stunning and effective martial art.
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