Cubans to Participate in Pan Am Judo Cup

Havana, Feb 24. – Cuban judokas will compete at the 2011 Pan American Cup to be held from March 3-5 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Rafael Manso Cuban judo commissioner informed.

Manso said that Cuban judokas will also compete in a continental championship in Mexico to be held next April 1-2.

Menâ�Ös and womenâ�Ös teams will participate in both competitions. Each team has seven judokas who are interested in strengthening the rating scores for the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, to be held from October 13-30.

Manso said that the competitors will be the same than competed in Paris Grand Slam.

He announced that Yurisleidis Lupetey (57kg), world champion in 2001 and bronze medalist in Athens 2004 is going to take part of the womenâ�Ös team. Others are Dayaris Mestre (48), Yanet Bermoy (52), Yaritza Abel (63), Onix Cortes (70), Yalennis Castillo (78) and Idalis Ortiz (+78).

Antonio Betancourt (60), Angelo Gómez (66), Ronald Girones (73), Osmay Cruz (81), Asley González (90) and world champions Oreidis Despaigne (100) y Oscar Braison (+100) are the athletes of the menâ�Ös team.

Cuba won 13 medals in judo in Rio de Janeiro Pan American Games 2007 and was the first by country with 5 gold medals, three silver medals and five bronze. Brazil followed Cuba with 4 gold medals, 6 silver and three bronze and the U.S.A was third with 3 gold medals, one silver and two bronze.(Prensa Latina)