Cuban judoka Mylin del Toro of the 63 kilograms (kg) division won a well-deserved bronze medal this Saturday on the first day of the Grand Slam tournament in Paris, one of the toughest tournaments the sport’s calendar throws at. on a global scale year after year. The Santiago de Cuba native defeated Canada’s Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard in a decisive fast track trial.

They were preceded by Cuban Sophie Ozbas from Hungary in the opening matchup, followed by Inbal Shemesh from Israel. Del Toro’s victim was Japanese Nami Nabekura, although the fight dragged on beyond normal time, which confirms the excellent form shown on the tatami by Yordanis Arencibia’s student.

The rest of the Creoles, who represented the island yesterday in Paris, were left out of the podium. They were Zamarit Gregorio Vasconsuelo (48 kg), Blanca Helena Cabrera (52 kg), Arnaes Odelin (57 kg), Orlando Polanco (66 kg) and Magdiel Estrada (73 kg). Today, Sunday, Delannis Gomez (70 kg), Jorge Martinez (81 kg), Ivan Silva (90 kg) and Lister Cardona (100 kg) will compete.

Source: Juventud Rebelde