Brazil strong at first day of Pan American Oceania Championships

Brazil took the majority of the gold medals at the first day of the Pan American and Oceania Championships in Lima in Peru on Friday. Four of the seven gold medals were for the Brazilians that had a strong women’s team that impressed most. The one final that didn’t go to Brazil was the women’s U63kg between Canada’s Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard and Australian Katharina Haecker.

Beauchemin-Pinard’s had gone smoothly until the very last round, where she faced a forceful Katharina Haecker of Australia for the gold, but it was Haecker who again won the Oceania title and now even including Pan America.

In the U57kg class former World and Olympic Champion Rafaela Silva lost in the semis to her countrywoman Jessica Lima who claimed the gold eventually against Anaes Odelin of Cuba. Silva took a bronze medal though.

Larissa Pimenta was expected to win the U52kg class. The Brazilian defeated Angelica Delgado in the final. Canada’s Kelly Deguchi took a bronze medal. Her sister Christa Deguchi and her rival Jessica Klimkait didn’t compete in Peru.

Amanda Lima of Brazil took the lightweight gold. Chile’s Mary Dee Vargas Lee was again in a final but had to be satisfied with silver.

A surprising winner was Costa Rica’s Sebastian Sancho in the men’s U60kg division. He defeated Danny Porte of Cuba in the final for gold. Joshua Katz of Australia took a valuable bronze medal again for his country. His brother Nathan who competed at the Olympic Games U66kg didn’t compete.

Eric Takabatake of Brazil won the U66kg category against Juan Postigos of home country Peru. Willian Lima (BRA) and Ari berliner (USA) took bronze.

The category U73kg was tremendously strong, a great field in Peru with American winner Dominic Rodriguez as the biggest surprise in such quality field. Alsonso Wong of Peru took a second important medal for his country, but not the desired gold. Antoine Bouchard of Canada took gold. His countryman Arthur Margelidon finished just seventh. Magdiel Estrada of Cuba took the second bronze medal. Olympic bronze medallist U66kg Daniel Cargnin who stepped up to U73kg finished fifth.