Cruz animated men’s heaviest category, over 100 kilograms, and lost in the final against Japanese Yuta Nakamura by ippon. The Asian executed an uchi mata (inner leg sweep) in tie-break time.

In the first Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe 2022, the Cuban triumphed in all his fights by ippon until reaching the final against Nakamura.

With the performance of the Antillean super heavyweight, Cuba finished in 12th place in a competition with young people from 65 nations. Before, he added the bronze medals of Kimy Bravo (66 kilos) and Idelannis Gómez (70 kg).

On the last day of the individual event, Brazilian Beatriz Freitas won the 78 kg silver medal, losing in the final against the Japanese Aki Kuroda by ippon.

To the gold medals of Nakamura and Kuroda, the Japanese team also added Mao Arai in the women’s category of over 78 kilos, beating the Turkish Hilal Ozturk in the decisive duel by immobilization, despite the notable difference in size between the two.

The individual fights ended with Japan as the great dominator of the tournament, obtaining six gold medals, followed at a distance by France, Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, with a world title each.

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