Judo Nunavut athletes win 9 medals at Quebec event
‘It was a little brutal,’ coach says of tough competition at tournament
From left, Baptiste Tagnigou Petnkeu, Daniel Smook, India Peyton-Barbe, Manfo Yombang and Calin Ndeloh were among the Judo Nunavut athletes who won medals at a Quebec tournament last weekend. Other medal winners not pictured were Victor Pootoogook, Charlotte Smook, Azriel Tagnigou Petnkeu and Amare Castillo. (Photo courtesy of Matilda Pinksen)
Nine Judo Nunavut athletes brought home medals after their 18-member team competed in the Daniel Hardy Cup tournament in Quebec City last weekend.
Their success was not a given because competition was fierce, said coach and competitor Matilda Pinksen, who lost all eight of her matches.
“It was a little brutal,” she said.
Stiff competition notwithstanding, team members won five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Manfo Yombang, 12, emerged with one of those gold medals, admitting he went in expecting the tournament to be “a meat grinder.”
“Quebec is one of the most developed provinces in Canada for judo. They’re really good,” he said.
“We were warned that this tournament was going to be a meat grinder — it was going to be really hard — but I think I actually handled myself pretty well.”
Yombang said he entered the tournament ready to use his favourite judo moves such as hip throws and leg blocks, but it was his confidence that was the game changer.
“Unlike the other tournaments, I was really confident about my game play and I wasn’t really as nervous,” he said. “That was a big win for me personally.”
India Peyton-Barbe, 11, also earned a hard-fought gold medal.
She prepared by practising her moves with her teammates before the competition. She ended her warm-up with music by rapper Eminem playing in her headphones.
“It got me hyped up,” she said.
Her gold-medal match ended decisively.
“I threw her onto the mat really quick and then I got her into a hold-down,” she said of her opponent.
Other top finishers were gold medal winners Victor Pootoogook, Daniel Smook and Charlotte Smook; silver winners Baptiste Tagnigou Petnkeu and Calin Ndeloh; and bronze winners Azriel Tagnigou Petnkeu and Amare Castillo.
“I’m super proud of my athletes,” Pinksen said.
Other Nunavut coaches were Mike Smook and Peter Melanson while team manager Janet Smook chaperoned.
Judo Nunavut plans to return to the Daniel Hardy Cup tournament next year to help prepare for the 2027 Canada Summer Games in Quebec City.
Why this line? “Their success was not a given because competition was fierce, said coach and competitor Matilda Pinksen, who lost all eight of her matches.”
Should have put a period after her last name. no reason to mention losing all her matches.
Because she said that in the interview when he was talking to us and he said il write about, that in the article so no hate in this she said she had fun there ok I was there too and im india peyton barbe I’m the girl who won first I the picture
This is reality ok guys it’s a game and she will learn from what happened and move on like Peter Melanson always said to me from my fights in Edmonton I got second place and thus time isaid I’m not going to lose and judo nunavut really cheers on
Well Done!