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Prado Wins Silver Medal at Golden Judoguis Championships in Cuba
By Nicole Jomantas // USA Judo // April 24, 2008
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) won her first major senior international medal outside of North America on Wednesday when she earned a silver medal in the 44kg division at the Golden Judoguis Championships in Havana, Cuba.
Prado defeated her first two opponents, both of Cuba by ippon, pinning the first with sankaku (triangle hold) and throwing the second for ippon (instant win) with an o soto gari (outer leg throw). In the finals she was caught by another Cuban and thrown with a double leg to place second.
Coming off her first Senior National title just over a week ago, Natalie Lafon (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) started off well in the 48kg division, pinning Maria Velazquez (VEN), the 2007 Pan American Champion at 44kg, for ippon in the first round. In her next match, Lafon faced 2007 World silver medalist Yanet Bermoy (CUB) who threw her off the grip for ippon. Lafon fought for bronze, but was thrown for ippon by Dayaris Mestre (CUB), a 2006 Pan Am bronze medalist in her former 44kg division.
Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami), the reigning Senior Nationals silver medalist in the 57kg division, also won her first match by sankaku, before being thrown for ippon in the semifinals by a Cuban player. Delgado dropped down to the bronze medal match, but lost by a yuko (quarter-point) to place fifth.
Competition continues Wednesday evening with the Jose Ramon Rodriguez Championships in which the men’s lightweights will compete.
For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.271.9937 (cell) or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us.
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