Cuban judokas train in Mexico before the Olympics

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 9 (acn) The five Cuban judokas qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro continue training in Mexico led by Asley González, Olympic silver medalist in the 90kg division in London 2012.

In addition to Gonzalez, the group also includes Magdiel Estrada (73 kilos), Ivan Silva (81), Jose Armenteros (100) and Alex Garcia (+100), all under tutelage of Coach Justo Noda and some other members of his staff such as trainers, doctor, physiatrist, psychologist, etc.

About González, also world champion in Rio de Janeiro 2013, Manso said his last non-attendance to competitions, including the Grand Prix of Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the World Masters of Guadalajara, Mexico; respond to strategic decisions of the coaching staff.

The slight discomfort he felt in his right shoulder, which prevented him from competing in the Pan American Championships in Havana, is already history, he said.

Uvelino Moreno, doctor of Cuban men's national team, recently told ACN from Mexico that Gonzalez is well, training without problems and with very good physical parameters. Now he is at one hundred percent.

On the four women qualified to Rio -Dayaris Mestre (48), Maricet Espinosa (63), Yalennis Castillo (78) and Idalis Ortiz (+78), Manso said they are training very well in Havana.

As planned, prior to the Olympic Games next August, the men squad will conduct a training base in Japan and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, although efforts are made to Gonzalez and Noda to attend the Grand Prix of Mongolia.

Regarding the women's team, under coach Armando Padron, they will complete their preparation in the Grand Prix of Hungary and the stay in Salvador de Bahia.

The Olympic ranking awarded 22 and 14 direct tickets for men and women respectively, and Ortiz was Cuba's best ranked with a second spot.

Espinosa finished 13th and Mestre 14th, while Castillo got the ticket through the continental ranking, as she concluded 15th.

Meanwhile, the men appeared in the ranking in the following way: Armenteros (9), Gonzalez (11), who didn't attend several tournaments, Silva (13), Garcia (21) and Estrada (21).