Monday, November 20th, 2023.- A surprise occurred in the first final of the afternoon session of judo at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, as Marcelo de Azevedo claimed the gold medal in the -90 kilograms J1/J2 category (total blindness or severe visual impairment).

The Brazilian secured victory with a waza-ari against his compatriot Arthur Cavalcante, who had previously been the champion in the discipline's latest World Championship.

Representatives from the South American giant have been dominating this particular sport at the continental event, as they secured all six gold medals until now.

Before the title match, bronze medal contests took place, with the American Benjamin Goodrich defeating Chilean Juan Riquelme with an ippon in the first of these battles. Meanwhile, the other victor in the fight for the third position was also an American, Richard Ties, who defeated the Venezuelan Héctor Espinoza with an ippon.

Written by Carlos Silva Rojas - José Tomás Lambert; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Luis Hidalgo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport