Russia and Brazil make the difference at PanAm Open in Lima

The team of Russia became the winner of the Pan American Open in Lima. With three gold medals, three silver and two bronze the Russians showed a good form. Brazil and Spain both captured two titles. At the second day it was Kirill Denisov who defeated Walter Facente in the final U90kg. Last year Denisov also won the tournament in Santiago exactly one year ago. In a pretty good field Zack Piontek (RSA) and Eduardo Bettoni (BRA) finished with bronze.

Beka  Gviniashvili is trying to get to the Olympics U100kg. Although he needs every point there’s still a lot of work to be done. But Beka took the opportunity and travelled to Lima for another 100 points. With his win he raised 21 positions to 55 but he will need another 500 points to be closer to the qualifying group. Gviniashvili defeated Grigori Minaskin who is giving Estonia more hope for qualification, he defeated Luciano Correa of Brazil in the semi.

Brazilian did win gold by means of Rafael Silva, the former number one defeated Renat Saidov, which is quite a good result. Saidov was penalized four times in the final. Michal Horak (CZE), and again Juhan Mettis (EST) took a medal in Lima.

In fact another Brazilian took gold, but Nacif Elias represents Lebanon successfully for a few years. He won the gold in Peru overcoming Srdjan Mrvaljevic in the final U81kg. British Owen Livesey took a bronze medal, where he won gold last year in Santiago.

In the women’s division no one else than Yuri Alvear claimed the gold. Onix Cortes qualified for the final where she took the lead, but halfway the match Alvear came back with an ippon.

A second gold medal for Spain after Sugoi Uriarte took the first on Saturday, now it was Laia Talarn who invested the trip, and came out with gold and 100 points. It brings her closer to the clean 14 of the World Ranking list, but so far she needs to qualify via the continental seeds. Talarn defeated Anastasia Dmitrieva (RUS). COmpetitor Marta Tort stayed close with a bronze medal.

Brazilian Maria Suelen Altheman is in a good shape. After gold in Düssseldorf, now she grabbed gold in Lima in the final against Russian Ksenia Chibisova. It seems she definitely left Rochele Nunes behind now and is on her way to a nomination in the Brazilian equipe.

Next week Olympic qualification collection continues in Buenos Aires and at the African Open in Casablanca.