Cuban Judokas to Attend Tokyo ‘Grand Slam’

HAVANA TIMES — A squad consisting of six Cubans has entered the Tokyo Grand Slam, to be held from today until Sunday on the mats at the Yoyogi National Stadium, reported AFP.

Olympic champion Idalis Ortiz (+78 kg) leads the team, with 2012 London silver-medalist Asley Gonzalez unable to participate.

According to national commissioner Rafael Manso, who was quoted by the online magazine Jit, the most outstanding Cuban on the recent tour of Brazil didn’t travel to the Japanese capital due to “technical decisions.”

Ortiz will compete alongside the island’s Dayaris Mestre (48 kg), Yanet Bermoy (52), Maricet Espinosa (63), Onix Cortes (70) and Kaliema Antomachin (78).

The Tokyo Grand Slam will be the next to the last judo competition in 2012, which culminates in the Jeju World Cup in South Korea the following week.