Venezuelan Judo Team Set to Compete in El Salvador, Eyeing 2026 Santo Domingo Games
san Salvador, El Salvador – Venezuela‘s top judokas, including Olympic participant Anriquelis Barrios and Pan American Champion Willis García, will compete in teh Central American and Caribbean Cup and Pan American Cup in El Salvador this September, with both events serving as crucial qualifiers for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.
the competitions, scheduled for September 6th and 7th at the Tatami of the Sports Palace of the National Sports Institute of El Salvador, will feature a strong Venezuelan contingent aiming to secure points and solidify their positions for the upcoming regional games.Barrios, currently ranked 55th in the world, will compete in the -63 kilogram category, where she is expected to face tough competition from Mexico’s Prisca Awiti, ranked 28th globally. Also returning to international competition is Karen León,whose last official event was a Grand Prix in Zagreb in July 2022. León will compete in the +78 kilogram division, facing Salvadoran Izayana marenco, ranked 46th in the world.
Rounding out the women’s team are Eliana aguiar (-70), Gabriela Miranda (-48), and Zunilda Chávez (-78).
On the men’s side,Willis García,the 2023 Pan American Champion,and Luis amezquita,winner of the 2023 Pan American Open in Santo Domingo,will lead the charge. García will compete in the -66 kilogram category, while Amezquita will compete in the +100 kilogram division. Andrés Pariche (-73), Jonheluis Patete (-90), and Angelo Urbano (-60) will also represent Venezuela.
The events also provide a valuable opportunity for younger Venezuelan judokas to gain experience and compete for a spot on the 2026 Santo Domingo team. Audreys Pacheco, a silver medalist at the 2025 Pan American Junior Games in Asunción (-57kg), and Leomaris Ruiz, a bronze medalist in the same competition (-52kg), will be looking to improve upon their previous results. Luis Pariche (81kg) and Samuel Corzo (-100kg), also medalists at the 2025 Junior Games, will also participate.
The Venezuelan team’s performance in El Salvador will be closely watched as they strive to qualify for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
(Source: Mindort)
