Saturday, october 28nd, 2023.- The preliminary rounds of the lighter weight categories marked the start of the judo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games on Saturday. In the afternoon, the finals will be held, and three Chileans will vie for bronze medals: Lucas Fernández (60 kg, male), Judith González (52 kg, female), and Mary Dee Vargas (48 kg, female).

Of the three, the only one who reached the semifinals was Fernández, having defeated Ecuadorian Bryan Garboa in the quarterfinals. However, in his quest for a spot in the final, he was defeated by Colombian Johan Rojas via an ippon.

Vargas and González, on the other hand, lost in the quarterfinals but secured victories in the repechage. This entitles them to compete for a second bronze medal (the first is contested by the semifinal losers).

Judith González entered the competition in the round of sixteen and, after winning her first match against Ecuador's Aracelly Barrionuevo, lost to Brazil's Larissa Cincinato. Finally, in the repechage, she defeated Argentina's Agustina Lahiton.

Mary Dee Vargas (who won a bronze medal in Lima 2019) lost in her debut in the quarterfinals to Colombian Erika Laso but triumphed in the repechage against Argentina's Ingrid Perafan.

Written by Arturo Hernández and Rodrigo Vargas; translated by Josefina Zamorano / Photosport
Photo by Jonnathan Oyarzun/Santiago 2023 / Photosport