Seel welcomes South American athletes and medalists for signing of support agreement for Pará sports
Veteran judokas celebrate achievements at the South American Championship and thank the support of the State Government
The State Secretariat of Sports and Leisure (Seel) held a ceremony on the morning of this Thursday (22) at the auditorium of the Olympic Stadium of Pará - Mangueirão, for the signing of the Support Agreement with about 40 athletes from the Jiu-Jitsu modality, who will represent Pará in national competitions. The event also marked the reunion with athletes supported by Seel who won medals at the South American Judo Championship - Veterans and Kata, held in Asunción, Paraguay, from May 16 to 18.
The Pará delegation, composed of eight athletes, won a total of 10 medals, including 4 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze, contributing to the outstanding performance of the Brazilian team in the championship. The event brought together 348 athletes from seven South American countries: Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Ecuador. With over 150 athletes, Brazil was the country with the largest representation.
The Secretary of Seel, Cássio Andrade, reinforced the State Government's commitment to strengthening sports. "The Government of Pará, through Seel, is breaking investment records. We are proud to support our athletes, who represent the State with determination and fill us with pride by raising the flag of Pará at national and international events," he emphasized.
Highlights of the competition – The Pará judokas who shone at the South American Championship were:
Pammela Ludmila Rocha Santos and Valdirene Nascimento, gold medalists in their categories (Female 4 -57kg).
Valdirene also won a silver medal in the team competition.
Rafael Ribeiro and Rosângela Saraiva also reached the top of the podium, winning gold in their respective categories (Rosângela in F4 -70kg).
Enivaldo Rodrigues (Master 6 up to 73kg), Mauro Silva (M5 up to 73kg), and Elder Araújo (M2 +100kg) won bronze.
Alan Saraiva secured a silver medal.
Athlete Valdirene Nascimento highlighted the importance of institutional support. "The support from Seel is essential. Without this support, we wouldn't be able to participate in an international competition to represent our state and our country," she stated.
Enivaldo Rodrigues also celebrated the achievement. "We feel very honored to represent Pará in a competition of great relevance," he said.
Rosângela Saraiva, gold medalist, celebrated her sixth victory in this competition and emphasized the impact of investment in sports. "Without this support, I wouldn't be able to participate. It's always very good to represent my state and my country. I am very happy with the result of the Pará team, which contributed to Brazil achieving first place overall in the medal table."
Upcoming challenges – The veteran athletes are already preparing for their next international commitment: the Pan American Judo Championship – Veterans and Kata, which will be held from July 25 to 27 in the United States. The expectation is to maintain good performance and further elevate the name of Pará in the international sports scene.
Text: Jessé Lima and Pedro Arthur
