Mexican Taekwondo's Outstanding Performance
The remarkable performance of Mexican taekwondo in the recent World Championship held in November in Guadalajara continues to bear fruit. As a result of their participation, the athletes have secured a good position in the world ranking, which has granted them all individual spots for the Central American and Caribbean Games without the need to compete internationally.
During the qualification event held in Costa Rica, eight Mexican taekwondo athletes competed to earn spots for the Central American Games. They only needed to reach the quarterfinals in their respective categories to secure a spot for Mexico. Due to their positions in the world ranking, they did not have to fight and were granted bye rounds, advancing directly to the quarterfinals.
For example, Daniela Souza (-49 kg) and Leslie Soltero (-67 kg) entered the competition as the current world champions. Souza is currently ranked third in the world, while Soltero is in seventh place. Carlos Sansores (+80 kg) and Brandon Plaza (-58 kg), who won gold and bronze respectively in the World Championship, also had the same benefit. Sansores is ranked first and Plaza seventh in the world rankings.
Fabiola Villegas (-57 kg) and Paloma García (+67 kg) secured the remaining two spots in the women's category, while Iker Casas (-68 kg) and José María Pastor (-80 kg) earned the two spots for the men's category. All four taekwondo athletes have a good position in the ranking.
In the upcoming edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, the TK3 team event will be included for the first time. Mexico has already secured both available spots. The women's team includes Fabiola Villegas, Itzel Velázquez, Jazmín Chávez, and Alexia Ramírez, while the men's team is composed of Brandon Plaza, Eros Acosta, David Millán, and Rubén Nava.
In addition, the poomsae discipline earned two spots for the Central American Games, thanks to Cecilia Lee and William Arroyo in the freestyle category.
Now, Mexican taekwondo faces the challenge of defending the Central American title they won in the previous edition in Barranquilla 2018.
