Silver lining for Team Chile against judo’s elite

Team Chile had to settle for three silver medals in the Continental Open Judo Santiago 2014 championships.
In the 81kg category, Fernando Salazar was left lamenting the gold medal that got away after losing a hard-fought battle against Brazil’s Panini.
The South American Games gold medallist said: “I had the gold medal in my hands, but perhaps the anxiety, the nerves cost me.
“This year is the first time that there´s a World Cup in Chile and so it´s something new for me. I´m happy, but in truth there´s a bitter taste.”
It was the same silver outcome for Tomás Briceño in the 91kg category. He lost in the final to Mexico´s Isso Cárdenas.
He said: “I couldn´t do much more. Before I was competing for the bronze, now I´m reaching World Cup finals. That´s important because it shows I´m improving.”
Arica´s Jacqueline Usnayo made it a hat-trick of silver medals after losing out in the 78kgs category to Spain´s Laia Talarn.
She said: “I wasn´t expecting to be in a final so soon. I lacked a little bit of experience because I was up against competitors that have already been competing at international level for some time. I´m very happy with this medal.”

Tags: Fernando Salazar, Jacqueline Usnayo, Judo, South American Games, Tómas Briceño