The Cuban judo team claimed the silver medal at the Santiago 2025 Pan American and Oceania Team Judo Championship, held this Sunday. Despite a strong performance throughout the tournament, Cuba was ultimately defeated by Brazil in the final.
Cuba began its journey with a dominant victory over Mexico, as Naomi Elizarde (+70 kg), Naysdel Cardoso (90 kg), Andy Granda (+90 kg), and Maylín del Toro (up to 70 kg) secured wins. The team then advanced to face Peru, winning 4-2 thanks to victories from Granda, Cardoso, del Toro, and Héctor San Román (73 kg). This result granted them a spot in the final against Brazil, who had decisively beaten Chile in the semifinals.
In the championship match, Brazil proved too strong, sweeping Cuba 4-0. Lian Benavides (57 kg) fell to Shirley Nascimento, Marlon Herrera (73 kg) was defeated by Daniel Cargnin, Jonathan Loynaz (+90 kg) lost to Rafael Buzacarini, and Yilian Carvajal (70 kg) was bested by Olympic champion and multiple world titleholder Rafaela Silva. Notably, Silva, despite being 33 years old, competed without issue in the up-to-57 kg category, 13 kg below her usual weight class.
The Cuban team took advantage of the opportunity to test its young talents against one of the strongest teams in the Americas. Although Brazil entered the tournament as favorites for the gold medal, Cuba’s performance showcased their resilience and promise for future competitions.
