Kristina (middle) at Dallas Open: sights set on Worlds / Photo: publicity
Last weekend two of Nova União’s greatest hopes for the 2011 Worlds shone at the Dallas Open.
Kaue Damasceno and Kristina Barlaan won their respective weight groups and absolutes as purple belts. Kristina managed the same feat one week prior, at the Phoenix Open.
“I’m getting Kristina ready to be world champion this year. We know it’s no easy task, she just missed in 2009 and 2010 with two bronzes, but she’s going to try and keep up the solid campaign from Phoenix and Dallas by competing at weight and open weight again. That’s a surefire way to make history,” remarked GMA and president of Nova União USA Gustavo Dantas.
“Kaue made some noise here by winning at weight and absolute at the Dallas Open, but we told him how the bar is much higher at the Worlds,” says Bruno Bastos, the team’s leader in Dallas. “The best will be there, but he for sure has what it takes to be with the best of them, he’s just never had the chance to compete here before. He won everything there was to win in Brazil as a purple belt, now it’s time for him to win here,” said Bastos in closing.