Cuban archers

Havana, March 28 (PL) - The Cuban Archery Federation highlighted the silver medal won by the representation of the Caribbean island in the team modality during the South American Championship of Maricá 2024, in Brazil.

"Excellent performance prior to the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games to be held next month in Medellin, Colombia. Congratulations guys! Now to 'fajarse' in the individual Olympic round," posted the entity on its Facebook profile.

According to the weekly Jit, Cubans Hugo Franco, Juan José Santiesteban and Javier Vega started the recurve archery match round with a five points to one victory over Colombia, to place themselves at the gates of the final in a competition they are attending as guests.

The Colombians depended on Santiago Arcila, Daniel Betancur and Jorge Enriquez, who were only able to win one unit against the disciples of Reiter Tellez, when they tied the last set of the match.

On the other side of the table, the Brazilians defeated the Chileans 6-0, led by Marcus D'Almeida, number one in the world ranking. They then repeated the sweep over the Cubans, with close scores of 57-56, 56-51 and 56-54, to win the title.

Tomorrow in the individual event, Franco, sixth in the 70-meter double backstroke, will face Panama's Francisco Osorio in search of a place in the round of 16.

For his part, Santiesteban will face Brazil's Gustavo Paulino Dos Santos and Vega will face Chile's Ricardo Soto, in heats that seem affordable for those from the largest of the Antilles.

In the next phase, the Cubans will have very complicated rivals, especially Vega, who will face D'Almeida. Both faced each other in the XIX Pan American Games of Santiago 2023, when the victory was in Cuban hands.

If Franco advances, his second opponent will be the winner of the match between the host Mathus Gomes and the Chilean Tomás Peña, and Santiesteban could tighten his bow against the Colombian Arcila, second in the qualifying round.