Cuban Olympic and world medallist Oscar Brayson heads the national judo team that will compete in the Pan American Judo Championships to be held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from April 26-28, state-run news website Cubasi reported Wednesday.

Brayson, who is in the over-100 kg division, leads the team comprised by Yandri Torres (55), Janiel Pena (60), Gilberto Solar (66), Magdiel Estrada (73), Ivan Silva (81), Andy Granda (90) and Jose Armenteros (100), coach Justo Noda told the site.

Cuban judo star Asley Gonzalez (90), an Olympic and world gold medal winner, and current leader of his division in the world ranking, will be absent from competition due to an injury to his right shoulder.

Noda stressed the importance of competing at Guayaquil, since the championships grant points towards the 2015 Pan-American Games, to be held in Toronto, Canada.

"That is our main goal now, after already securing our place in the eight categories of the Central American and Caribbean Games," said Noda.

The Cuban women's judo team for the Pan American Judo event, announced previously, is headed by Olympic and world champion Idalis Ortiz (over-78 kg) and includes Egypt 2005 world champion Yanet Bermoy (52) and Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medal winner Yalennis Castillo (78), as well as Dayaris Mestre (44), Maria Celia Laborde (48), Aliuska Ojeda (57), Maricet Espinosa (63) and Olga Masferrer (70).

Cuba has won many of its world and Olympic medals in judo, a grand total of 67 (15-18-34) and 35 (6-13-16), respectively. Endite

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