Brazil had three athletes on the mat this Sunday (26) for the World Taekwondo Championship, in Wixu, China. Matheus Gilliard, from Rio de Janeiro, in the up to 54 kilograms (kg) category, and Ícaro Miguel from Minas Gerais (up to 87 kg) were those who came closest to the medal, eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Silver medalist in the Manchester, England, edition in 2019, Ícaro won his first two fights against Indian Rishabh Chaudhary and Russian Rafael Kamalov. In the quarterfinals, however, he could not resist the Ukrainian Artem Harbar. If he had won, the Brazilian would have secured at least bronze, as there is no dispute for third place. Egyptian Seif Eissa won gold in the category.
Matheus also got the better of his first fights, against the Portuguese Noah Garcia and the Egyptian Moataz Abu Sree, falling to the Greek Aristeidis Psarros in the quarterfinals. The weight gold medal went to South Korean Eunsu Seo.
Thaisa de Souza from São Paulo was the third Brazilian representative this Sunday, but ended up being surpassed in her debut. She lost to Iranian Melika Vakili in the 73 kg category.
In the early hours of this Sunday to Monday (27), Brasília time, three more Brazilians compete for podiums in Wixu: Júlia Nazário from Santa Catarina (up to 46 kg), Raiany Fidelis from Minas Gerais (over 73 kg) and Henrique Marques from Rio de Janeiro (fifth place in the ranking of the up to 80 kg category).
Last Friday (24), Maria Clara Pacheco from São Paulo was the champion among athletes up to 57 kg, winning Brazil’s first world title since Natália Falavigna from Paraná, in 2005. The competition in Wixu continues until Thursday (30).
