In addition, Darlyn Padilla (-80 kg) and José Benítez (+80 kg) competed.
José Nieto was the first Ecuadorian in the taekwondo discipline to achieve a bronze medal in the -68 kg at the Junior Pan American Games in Cali. The tricolor fell on Friday in the preliminary rounds to Cristian Olivero of Chile, 14-5. However, the Chilean reached the final, which gave the tricolor the opportunity to fight for bronze.
Thus, he won against Adrián Benítez of Puerto Rico and took the podium by defeating him 11-9. The gold corresponded to the Mexican Uriel Tagle and Olivero kept the silver. The other bronze went to Argentine Diego Montúfar.
“I am very happy for this bronze medal, but I am not satisfied because the objective was to look for the gold medal to obtain the pass to Santiago (Pan American Games 2023), but a Pan American bronze medal is not all bad,” he said. Grandson.
“The level was very strong, at the Pan-American level it is very even, so you have to prepare much better. Many more events are coming, such as the Bolivarian and South American Games, ”he added.
This Saturday Mell Mina in the -67 kg division also fell in the preliminary rounds against Eliana Vásquez of Peru by 18-16. The Peruvian advanced to the final and gave Mina the opportunity to contest the bronze against the Brazilian Luana Lojudice, whom she ended up winning by 23 to 19.
The gold medal went to the Mexican Leslie Soltero, Vasquez got the silver and the other bronze medal went to Britney Morales, from the United States.
“I am happy with the medal, but not satisfied because I did expect other results, but we gave everything to achieve this medal. The level here is very high, I liked it because I learned a lot, there is a lot to rescue, now get home and continue correcting, ”said Mina.
“I came for a medal and thank God I was able to obtain it. I dedicate it to my mother because she is always there supporting me, to my coach who was in all the preparation and to the entire Ecuador, “he said.
In the taekwondo discipline in Ecuador, Darlyn Padilla (-80 kg) and José Benítez (+80 kg) also competed. (D)
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