Mexico, (EFE) .- The triple Olympic and world medalist, the Mexican María Espinoza heads the Mexican taekwondo team that traveled to Italy on Monday to participate in the Grand Prix of Rome to be held from June 7 to 9.
“The objective is to achieve the highest number of points, it is a high level competition to fight the best in the world and the end of the year is strong for countries that seek to classify their athletes directly to the Olympic Games,” explained Alfonso Victoria , head coach of the national team.
The Grand Prix of Rome, which awards 40 points in the Olympic ranking, will be the last international competition planned for the team, prior to the Pan American Games Lima 2019.
The road to Espinoza was not easy as he presented a stomach infection days before moving to Europe, however the team managers expect no inconvenience to participate in the fair from next Saturday.
The 31-year-old multimedallista and his compatriot, Briseida Acosta, double world medalist, will also compete for the pending ticket in the division of more than 67 kilograms for the next Pan American Games.
Last weekend was made in the Mexican Olympic Committee of the capital of the country the selective for the continental fair by the system of all against all with a place to be assigned in the highest category of the women’s branch.
The team of 10 Mexican taekwondo players who will participate in Italy is completed by the competitors Victoria Heredia, in 67, and Paulina Armería, in 57.
Brandon Plaza, of 58 kilos, and Carlos Sansores, in more than 80, lead the team of men in which they appear César Rodríguez (58), Rubén Nava (68), Saúl Gutiérrez (68) and René Lizárraga (80).