Baseball

Matanzas leads more comfortably now the standings of LIV Cuban Baseball Championships, which took place 2 draws after the first 2 days of the 2nd phase.

Matanzas is now 4 games ahead of its followers after beating 8x1 to Granma and placed 1 win to sweep in their 1st subset of the 2nd phase.

In the same situation are Industriales, Ciego de Avila and defending champion Pinar del Río, also winners of their respective rivals for the 2nd consecutive time at the start of step that defines the 4 teams that will go on to the playoffs.

The Cuban capital's representatives beat 4x3 to Artemisa in the single afternoon game, while Avilanians surpassed 6x5 to Holguín in a game set in the 9th and Pinar del Rio won by a score of 7x2 to Isla de la Juventud.

This Tuesday ends the duels started last Sunday and, after a rest and traveling on Wednesday, competition resumes on Thursday with new clashes.

Boxing

With its main stars confirmed within the official staff, Cuba's Los Domadores, the Caribbean island set its 32 boxers to attend the V World Series of Boxing, which will defend the crown won in the previous edition.

The first commitment of Cubans will be on January 16th when facing debutant Moroccan team in Havana.

Barbados and Cuba Working on Sports, Culture Collaboration

Barbados and Cuba are seeking to deepen their collaboration in sports and culture, Barbadian media highlighted on Tuesday.

The proposed approach was discussed during a courtesy call on Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley, by Cuban Ambassador, Francisco Fernández Peña, at the Ministry of Culture’s Haggatt Hall, St. Michael office, Monday.

The Sports Minister noted that the National Sports Council was interested in extending its existing contract with CUBADEPORTES but would be seeking to widen cooperation to ensure greater reciprocity. Under the current bilateral agreement, there are seven Cuban nationals contracted to provide coaching in a number of disciplines.

Lashley said he wanted more Barbadian coaches to share their knowledge in Cuba.

“We would like to see Barbadian coaches teaching the indigenous sport of road tennis in Cuba. We are interested in expanding road tennis across the region,” he said, also calling for scholarships and exchanges in sports.

The Minister, who is also responsible for Culture, further indicated that Barbados wanted to collaborate in the areas of heritage conservation, restoration techniques, as well as cultural and technical exchanges.

Ambassador Fernández Peña agreed that the islands should enrich their relationship, and extended an invitation to Barbados to showcase its cultural heritage at an upcoming festival.

Lashley concluded: “We would like to develop a stronger and holistic relationship that could take both countries to the next level.”

Barbados and the Republic of Cuba established diplomatic relations in December 1972.