Olympic gold and silver medallist Idalys Ortiz and other top Cuban judoka are awaiting access to a pre-Tokyo 2020 training base at Cienfuegos ©Getty Images

Cuban judoka aiming for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are awaiting approval of a training base in the central province of Cienfuegos.

Rafael Manso, President of Cuba’s National Judo Federation, told the Cuban News Agency (ACN) that arrangements are being made for the men’s and women’s teams, coached respectively by Julio Alderete and double Olympic bronze medallist Yordanis Arencibia, to continue preparing for the postponed Games in Cienfuegos.

It is deemed safer than capital Havana, where the national teams of all disciplines are based, or training abroad, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Judoka based in Havana will have the possibility of traveling to the Pearl of the South, as Cienfuegos is known, and where Arencibia's pupils have already trained.

Cuban judoka are awaiting transfer to a pre-Tokyo 2020 training base in Cienfuegos ©Getty Images
Cuban judoka are awaiting transfer to a pre-Tokyo 2020 training base in Cienfuegos ©Getty Images

Alderete's athletes have recently used Santiago de Cuba as their training base.

Cuban judo players recently travelled to take part in the World Judo Masters event in Doha, with disappointing results - Magdiel Estrada, in the under-73 kilograms class, Andy Granda in the over-100kg class, and London 2012 gold medallist and Rio 2016 silver medallist in the women’s over-78kg category, Idalys Ortiz, all lost in their first fights.

Before traveling to Doha, Manso told the ACN that Cuban athletes planned to contest Grand Slam events in Tel Aviv and Paris next month.

The World Championships, due to be held in Budapest in June, are also in the planning.

Cuba has a proud record in Olympic judo, currently standing fifth in the all-time medals table with six golds, 14 silvers and 16 bronze medals.