Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and Brazil all left with gold medals in judo from the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in Peru on Saturday (24 August), as football-5-a-side competition also got underway.

In judo Cuba’s Yordani Fernandez triumphed in the men’s over 100kg, beating Brazil’s four-time Paralympic champion Antonio Tenorio on the way to the final.

Taking on the USA’s Benjamin Goodrich for gold, Fernandez gained the advantage with waza ari as Goodrich picked up two shido.

The Cuban rounded off the fight with an impressive ippon to retain his Parapan American Games title from Toronto, Canada, in 2015.

Yordani Fernandez of Cuba celebrates winning gold. Credit: Lima 2019

Tenorio did go on to claim bronze, keeping his impressive record going at the age of 48.

Jamaica’s Theodor Subba won his first international medal with bronze. The podium comes just seven months after the 21-year-old took to the tatami for the first time.

Argentina’s Edoardo Gauto emerged the victor in the men’s up to 66kg, improving on his silver medal from 2015 in the up to 60kg.

Gauto took on fellow B1 judoka Luis Perez of Puerto Rico for gold, winning by ippon.

Venezuela’s Marcos Falcon, the defending champion, this time settled for bronze. Cuba’s Jose Romero joined Falcon on the podium.

Uruguay’s Henry Borges retained his title from 2015 in the men’s up to 60kg after a direct hansoku-make was awarded against his Venezuelan opponent Marcos Blanco.

The USA’s Ronald Hawthorne was third alongside Brazil’s Marques Thiego.

Mexico’s Brayan Valencia took gold in the men’s up to 90kg. Silver went to Brazil’s Arthur Calvacante followed by the USA’s Ricky Ties with bronze.

In the women’s up to 52kg, Brazil’s Giulia Pereira won her all fights in the round robin format to claim gold.

That included an ippon against Canada’s World Championships bronze medallist Priscilla Gagne, who left with silver.

Pereira’s teammate Karla Cardoso secured bronze as did Argentina’s Paula Gomez.

Judo at Lima 2019 concludes on Sunday with the men’s up to 81kg and up to 73kg and the women’s up to 57kg and over 70kg. The over 70kg will feature a clash between Mexico’s Paralympic champion Lenia Ruvalcaba and Brazilian world title holder Alana Martins.

Football-5-a-side

Three games opened proceedings in the blind football competition at the Villa Maria del Triunfo Sports Centre.

An unexpected 0-0 draw came for defending champions and Paralympic and world title holders Brazil against Colombia.

Brazil had two shots on goal from Jeferson and Nonato denied by Colombia.

Colombia meanwhile missed a golden opportunity when Jhon Eider Gonzalez Hernandez missed a penalty kick.

Mexico overcame debutants and hosts Peru in their opening match, but only with a slim 1-0 win with a goal in added time. Peru managed more shots on goal than their rivals as Leone Francesco Perez Davila, Carlos Javier Guevara Shupingahua, captain Rony Giancarlos Estrada Ramirez and Jhonatan Brayan Bartolo Climaco breached the Mexican defence.

However Mexico’s Rubicel Delacruz Torres came through for his side 14 seconds into added time, striking the back of the Peruvian net to hand his team the win.

World Championships silver medallists Argentina eased passed Costa Rica on Saturday with a 2-0 win. Nicolas Veliz and Maxi Espinillo netted the goals.

Blind football will also continue on Sunday and run all week in Lima, with the exception of a day off on 27 August. The final will be contested on 30 August.

Full results are available at Lima 2019's website. Fans can also follow the action on IBSA Judo and IBSA Blind Football's social media.

Live broadcast of both sports is available here.