Wrestling at the 2022 South American Games kicks off October 12-14 in Paraguay’s capital city, Asuncion. A total of 12 countries and 112 athletes will be participating in Asuncion.
The South American Games are the most important event for the region and mark the beginning of the Olympic cycle for most participating countries.
Greco-Roman begins October 12 with six returning champions from the 2018 Cochabamba Games looking to defend their titles.
Dicther HANS TORO (COL) is the favorite to grab gold at 60kg after winning the 2022 Bolivarian Games and claiming back-to-back Pan-American titles.
After winning South American silver in 2018, Hans Toro is on a quest to grab his first Games gold. He’ll have to get through Joao BENAVIDES (PER) and Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN), who were silver and bronze-medal finishers in Valledupar, respectively.
The most crowded category of the style is 67kg.
Bolivarian Games gold medalist Andres MONTAÑO (ECU) will move to 67kg after spending most of his career down at 63kg.
Montano is a two-time South American Games champion, winning golds at 59kg at the ’14 Santiago Games and 60kg at the ’18 Cochabamba Games.
Montano will have to face Colombia’s reigning Pan-American champion Julian HORTA, Venezuela’s Shalon VILLEGAS (VEN) and Nilton SOTO (PER).
At 77kg, there will be a likely clash of South American champions.
Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) comes determined to retain his 77kg South American title obtained four years ago.
Cuero will share the bracket with two formidable challengers in Wuilexis RIVAS (VEN) and Joilson DE BRITO (BRA).
Rivas is the reigning Bolivarian Games champion, while De Brito has medaled at four consecutive Pan-American Championships after winning 67kg gold at the 2018 South American Games.
In the 87kg Noric-style bracket, Bolivarian Games opponents Carlos MUÑOZ (COL) and Luis AVENDAÑO (VEN) will likely meet for gold.
Munoz is the champion of the 2018 South American Games, while Avendano won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games.
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Luillys PEREZ (VEN) heads into Asuncion determined to repeat as South American Games champion. He comes into Paraguay fresh off winning gold at Valledupar.
Outside of Perez, rising star Igor QUEIROZ (BRA) is another guy to pay attention to at 97kg. Last year, he won the Pan-American Junior Games Cali-Valle.
Source: www.uww.org
