Photo: Roberto Morejón (special envoy JIT)
Havana, July 1 (RHC)-- Cuban women wrestlers achieved a true feat this Friday at the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games, winning five titles and a bronze medal in the six divisions contested.
With a very renewed team compared to the one that competed in the previous Olympic cycle, the Island gave a blow of authority in the La Cuna de "El Mágico" gymnasium, marked by a festive atmosphere and great rivalry.
Yusneylis Guzman (50 kg), Laura Herin (53 kg), Angela Alvarez (57 kg), Maria Santana (62 kg) and Hangelen Llanes (68 kg) climbed to the top of the podium to raise to 11 the crowns of the Island in this sport, after the six achieved by the grequistas on Thursday.
Needless to say, we are talking about the sport that has brought the most titles to the Cuban delegation so far, with the freestyle event scheduled for today still to be held.
Guzman debuted with a 10-0 technical superiority over the Puerto Rican Shammilka Miranda. She then went on to win by the same score (13-2) over Venezuela's Mariana Rojas and in the final over Mexico's Mariana Diaz, in that case by 8-5.
Herin began her competition against a "very tough nut to crack", the Venezuelan Betsabeth Arguello, whom she eliminated with a 7-5 score. Her second match against Colombia's Sandy Para, who she defeated 5-3, was also difficult.
For the gold medal, Herin starred in a great fight against Mexico's Karla Acosta, who was 4-4 down in the final seven seconds. Incredibly, the Cuban got a technical action of two points that was ratified by the judges before the claim of the rival corner. The final score was 7-4.
Angela started in the round of 16 with success by points over the Dominican Yocleidy Ramirez (5-2). In the quarterfinals she defeated the Puerto Rican Nes Rodriguez (10-5) and in the semifinals the Venezuelan Betsabeth Sarco (6-3). The final was very close against Mexico's Susana Lozano (3-1).
Santana's route to the top of the podium began against the Puerto Rican Karoline Ortiz, whom she defeated by technical superiority. Later, she defeated the Venezuelan Astrid Montero (3-2) and the Aztec Alexis Gomez (4-0).
That was the end of a sort of "dual meet" between Cuba and Mexico, with four finals won by the Caribbean women.
The fifth golden medal was celebrated by Hangelen thanks to a punch over the Honduran Saidy Chavez and victories by points over the Mexican Ambar Garnica (7-4) and the Colombian Nicoll Parrado (6-4).
The last Cuban medal was won by the courageous Milaymis Marín Potrillé (76 kg), a bronze adorned with bravery. After undergoing surgery for an accident in one of her eyes just 10 days ago, the multi-champion made her way to the podium.
