Venezuelan judo dominated in Santo Domingo after winning mixed team gold

Published at: 28/07/2026 07:34 PM

Led by the champions Anriquelis Barrios (-63 kg) and Karen León (+87), the national judo said goodbye to the Central American Games with its third gold medal, this time in mixed teams, in the final that was played in the combat hall of the Olympic Center in Santo Domingo.

Zunilda Chávez, Audreys Pacheco, Willis García, Samuel Corzo, Johnelius Patete, Andrés and Luis Pariche completed the national team that accounted for Mexicans Prisca Awiti, Ulises Méndez, Paulina Martínez, Diego Díaz, Liliana Cárdenas and Alexis Esquivel in the decisive fights for gold.

With a strong start in the quarterfinals, Venezuela beat the San Salvador team in 4 matches by 0, and then beat the Dominican Republic 4-3, which effectively executed Andrés Pariche by yuko against Maikor Louis to save the ticket to the final against Mexico.

The final contest did not go the easy way; it lasted up to seven confrontations with two initial victories for Ippon de Pacheco and Andrés Pariche.

Then the Mexican team put pressure in the third round with the silver medalist of Paris 2024, Prisca Awiti, who marked her rematch against Barrios, gold in the -63 individual championship, and now beat the Guiana player with a yuko.

With the score tied to 3-3, the screen decided the division that would define the gold medal for Venezuela. It was up to flag bearer Karen León to seal the gold by beating Cárdenas in gold by Yuko.

The honor roll of this event was completed by Mexico in second place and the Dominican Republic and Panama in third position.

National judo closed its participation in Santo Domingo with three gold, one silver and seven bronzes that, by a golden one, improved its performance in San Salvador 2023, when it won two golds, one silver and seven bronzes.

Mazo News Team