All four of Mexico's champions at the last edition of the Pan American Championships - which the nation hosted in Cancún - qualified to defend their titles.

They are Brandon Plaza, Carlos Navarro, René Lizárraga and Daniela Souza.

Souza triumphed in the women's under-49 kilograms division at the selective trials at the Centro Deportivo Tricentenario de Chihuahua.

"I am happy to win gold and I feel very satisfied as it was a very difficult and demanding event, Souza said.

"It would be my third Pan American Championships, in the first I was in the quarter-finals, in the second I won, and now I hope to repeat the title."

Under-46kg fighter Amelia Espinoza, Fabiola Villegas at under-53kg, Anel Félix at the new weight of under-57kg, Carolina Velázquez in the under-62kg category, Leslie Soltero at under-67kg, Victoria Heredia at under-73kg and over-73kg athlete Paloma García join Souza in the women's team.

Plaza is to compete at men's under-58kg, Navarro under-63kg and Lizárraga under-74kg.

Under-54kg competitor César Rodríguez, 2021 runner-up Iker Casas at under-68kg, under-80kg fighter José María Pastor, Bryan Salazar at under-87kg and heavyweight Carlos Sansores complete the men's line-up.

Mexico won 16 medals at the Pan American Taekwondo Championships in 2021, more than any other country.

Punta Cana is due to host this year's Pan American Championships from May 2 to 5.