Sunday, october 29nd, 2023.- In a Sunday that hadn't been favorable for Chilean judo, Jorge Pérez stepped up and reached the final in the 81-kilogram category, securing a silver medal.

The local judoka, who didn't receive a bye in the first round as is the case in many instances, had to win three matches to make it to the title bout.

In the round of 16, he defeated Salvadoran Gustavo López by ippon. He then did the same with Uruguayan Alain Aprahamian in the quarterfinals, and in the semifinals, he defeated Cuban Maikel McKenzieor via hansoku-make in a match that lasted nearly eight minutes.

"I'm very excited, truly happy. I dedicate this to my entire family, my coach, and all the people who have supported me," said a very emotional Pérez after his victory.

In the final, at 3:55 p.m., the Chilean will face a tough challenge when he takes on the Brazilian Guilherme Cesar Schmidt, the world's number three.

The other local judokas who competed this Sunday had a different fate from Pérez, and none of them will be contending for medals. This was the case for Camila Lagos in the 70-kilogram category, Constanza Pérez in the 63-kilogram category, and Juan Pablo Vega in the 73-kilogram category. None of them managed to win any matches, neither in the initial rounds nor in the repechage.

Written by Arturo Hernández y Alejandro Pérez; translated by Felipe Vergara / Photosport
Photo by Juan Carlos Romo/Santiago 2023 / Photosport