Five Cuban judokas to participate in World Master in Russia

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 13 (acn) Cuba will compete this weekend with five judokas in the IJF World Master St. Petersburg 2017, in Russia, tournament that will be attended by the best 16 seats in the world ranking in each of the 14 divisions (women and men) and other athletes invited by the organizers.

Idalis Ortiz, Olympic and world multi-medalist in the +78 kilograms, leads the Cuban representation, as well as Alex Garcia (+100), who ranked fifth in Rio 2016 Olympics, where Ortiz won the silver medal.
After more than a year without competing, Ortiz finished third in the Open World Championships, in Marrakech, Morocco, just like Garcia.
The team includes the other two Cubans who attended the Moroccan World Cup; Kaliema Antomarchi (78), world bronze medalist in Budapest, Hungary, and Andy Granda (100), who ranked fifth in Marrakech.
The Caribbean quintet is completed with Ivan Silva (90), who has replaced in the last competitions with good results Asley Gonzalez, Olympic and world runner-up, who is still looking for his best sporting shape after a knee surgery.
According to the IJF website, the organizers expect the presence of 214 athletes from 45 countries, in a tournament that will grant 1,800 points for the world ranking to the winners.