Tokyo 2020: Paula Pareto was eliminated in the quarterfinals and must bet on bronze in the playoffs

Mauricio Codocea

07/24/2021 1:44 AM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 07/24/2021 1:58 AM

Paula Pareto, Olympic champion in Rio 2016, will

not be able to defend her gold medal

in these Olympic Games.

The judoka lost in the -48kg category quarterfinal match with the Japanese

Funa Tonaki

, although she will have another chance of a medal: she

can aspire to bronze in the playoffs

to get on the podium at Tokyo 2020.

Argentina had had

an excellent start

in this Olympic edition.

In the first instance, he had eliminated the South African

Geronay Whitebooi

with an ippon when barely two minutes of combat had passed.

In the round of 16, meanwhile, she faced the Slovenian

Marusa Stangar

, twelfth in the world ranking (the Peque is sixth) and again prevailed with authority, in just one minute and 36 seconds, by ippon by accumulating two waza ari ( this is putting the opponent on his back, although in this case without the necessary conditions of strength, speed and precision sufficient to grant an ippon and win the fight immediately).

In the quarters, it was the turn of the local Tonaki, who despite receiving a shido (sanction) in the first seconds, ended up imposing his power and made an

ippon

to win the duel.

The Little Pareto, submitted by the Japanese Tonaki.

Photo Jack GUEZ / AFP

Pareto ended the match

with obvious pain

in his left arm.

On his way to the locker room, he engaged in a brief dialogue with TyC Sports and commented: "(The pain is in) the elbow. They did not let me see the doctor. I need to see him and tell me to know how I am for the afternoon ".

Her evolution will depend on whether she can participate in the repechage for the bronze medal, a medal she achieved the first time she got on a podium, in

Beijing 2008

, before winning gold in Rio, which made her the first Argentine woman to achieve such a feat.

If she manages to be in a position to present herself, her rival will be the Portuguese

Catarina Costa

.

The honor of the Olympic flag

Paula Pareto, in the middle, carrying the Olympic flag.

Photo Jeff PACHOUD / AFP

At the opening ceremony of the Games,

Little

was recognized as being

one of the flag bearers with the olympic rings.

It was an athlete from each continent and she was the American chosen

for having been on the front line in the fight against the pandemic

, as detailed Clarín.

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