Montreal, March 12, 2017 – Marc Deschênes climbed to the second level of the podium on Sunday at the Buenos Aires Pan American Open in Argentina.

Competing in the U100 kg category, the judoka from Laval, Quebec began his day with two victories, winning his first match by shido against Argentina’s Martin Olveira and his second by ippon against Chile’s Italo Cordova.

“Olveira competed very defensively so I wasn’t able to throw him. However, I was able to immobilize Cordova on the ground,” commented Deschênes.

In the final, he faced off against Thomas Briceno, also of Chile, who managed to immobilize Deschênes and snag the gold medal.

“Briceno had beaten me before, in the juniors. My final round didn’t go very well. I was countered with a waza-ari in the first minute. He landed right on top of me, immobilized me, and held me for an ippon,” explained the Quebecois with a disappointed air.

deschênes remains positive, however, and is already looking forward to his next competition. “I hope to get my revenge next week!” he declared.

Gueorgui Poklitar finished seventh in Saturday’s U66 kg competition. He dispatched of his first opponent, Argentinian Santiago Legallais, with an ippon, but bowed out to his second adversary, American Ryan Vargas, who scored a waza-ari.

In the repechage, the Montrealer lost to another Argentinian, Minoru Tamashiro, who won by ippon.

Wander Mateo of the Dominican Republic claimed the gold medal with his victory over Peru’s Juan Postigos. The two bronze medals went to Vargas and Argentina’s Fernando Gonzalez.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada
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