Mexico’s national judo team finished second in the overall medal standings at the Pan American Judo Open Montreal 2026, collecting six medals — two gold, three silver and one bronze — at the International Judo Federation-sanctioned tournament, senderoartesmarciales.com reported.
The event in Montreal drew 215 athletes from 26 countries across five continents, according to official IJF records. Host Canada topped the medal table with four gold medals.
Paulina Martínez captured gold in the -52 kg division, repeating the Pan American title she had already won earlier this year in Santo Domingo. The Paris 2024 Olympian stood atop the podium once more.
Víctor Ochoa took gold at -100 kg, adding to the medals he had previously earned in San Salvador and Santo Domingo 2026.
Kassandra Espinoza won silver at -48 kg, a result that keeps her on track in the qualification route toward the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. Gilberto Cardoso added silver at -81 kg after his earlier gold in the Dominican Republic.
Norma Liliana Cárdenas Meléndez took silver at -78 kg after losing the final to Venezuela’s Elvismar Rodríguez. Aylin Ávila earned bronze at -52 kg, sharing that podium with Martínez.
Jeremy Olivares finished fifth at -100 kg and Ulises Méndez Cobos seventh at -73 kg, results the IJF records show kept Mexico competitive across the continental field.
Official IJF records list 215 judoka from 26 countries across five continents.
Host Canada led the medal table with four golds, ahead of Mexico’s two.
What does this mean for the Lima 2027 qualification route? Espinoza’s silver at -48 kg keeps her firmly in contention for a Pan American Games qualification spot in Lima 2027.
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