Club Akari-Las Nieves has concluded a historic season in the National Club League by securing its presence in the Final Four with both its men's and women's teams, also managing to reach the podium in the women's category. This accomplishment solidifies the club as a benchmark in national judo.
The Villaviciosa de Odón Pavilion hosted the semifinals, where both Canarian teams faced Valencia, the reigning champion of the competition. The women's team began their match in the +70 kg category with a victory, but the tie remained close until the final bout, which ultimately decided Valencia's passage to the final.
Following their semifinal defeat, the Akari-Las Nieves judokas demonstrated their resilience in the bronze medal match. They achieved a decisive 4-1 victory against the Madrid-based Kaizen team, thus securing third place. Judoka Ainoa Salazar concluded the competition with a crucial win.
In the men's competition, the team also delivered a notable performance against the reigning champion. Despite losing a closely contested semifinal by a narrow 3-2 margin, the Canarian team fought until the end. In the bronze medal playoff, they finished in a commendable fourth position.
This result is particularly significant as it involves a team recently promoted to the top tier of national judo. Akari-Las Nieves was the only club capable of defeating the champion during the regular league season, demonstrating their high competitive level.
“"It will be very difficult for a situation like this to happen again. Having both our teams fighting for medals in the National Club League reflects the work that has been done for many years. We are very proud of all the athletes and the technical staff, because they have shown that Canarian judo can compete head-to-head with the best teams in Spain."
The club's coach, Jorge Hernández, described the performance as 'an unprecedented success,' emphasizing the merit of qualifying both teams for the Final Four and competing at the highest national level.
