World Rowing Championships

Cuban Ángel Fournier competes today, Friday, in the semifinals of the men's 2000 meters single event, free weight, of the World Rowing Championships after finishing second in his quarterfinal heat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He will be looking for a ticket to the finals taking place on Sunday.

The other four men that qualify for the semifinals were the German Marcel Hacker (7: 12.060), New Zealander Mahe Drysdale (7: 09.680) and Azeri Aleksandar Aleksandrov (7: 15.820), winners of their respective heats, and Belgian Hannes Obreno (7: 09.380), who along with Fournier achieved the best times among the rest of the rowers.

Women's judo

Onix Cortés (70Kg) and Yelennis Castillo (78Kg) are in action Friday, on the fourth and last day of the Individual Tournament of the Judo World Championship in Cheliabinsk, Russia, where they will try to re-find the Cuban medal path.

Since the bronze medal won by María Celia Laborde (48) on the first day, the caribbean island has not been able to mount the podium again, although Dayaris Mestre (48) and Yanet Bermoy (52) came close, at the end finishing in fifth place (having fought for bronze).

The program Friday also includes the 90Kg competition, where the island does not have an entrant as Asley González, olympic silver medallist at London 2012 and world title holder at Río de Janeiro 2013, is waiting for shoulder surgery.

Another good opportunity for the island to win medals will be on Saturday, when Idalis Ortiz (+78), world number one, olympic and world champion, Oscar Brayson (+100), olympic and world medallist, and José Armenteros (100) come to the mats.

Janier Peña (60), Gilberto Solar (66), Magdiel Estrada (73), Aliuska Ojeda (57) and Maylin del Toro (63) have already competed without medal success.

Japan leads the individual tournament medal table, with 4 gold and 2 bronze – both women and men equal with 2 golds and 1 bronze.

Cuba (0-0-1) is in 13th place overall and in eighth for the women (0-0-1) and share 19 among men, so they will have to take the extra day, and Saturday, looking to match or beat the third rung by nations - the women's second place, and the men's fourth, achieved in Rio de Janeiro 2013.

Volleyball

Cuba´s men volleyball team will participate with a young group of players in the 2014 FIVB World Championship to be held in Poland. The event will take place from August 30th to September 21st.

Before departing to Poland, via Amsterdam, Cuban DT Rodolfo Sanchez said to RHC “our goal is to advance to the second round and once there, play hard every game”.

Sanchez led the team to the title in the FIVB Pan American Cup held in Mexico. He pointed out that his players are “better prepared now” than they were at the World League.

The DT regarded as “fundamental” Monday´s game versus Finland.

Twenty four countries participate in the World Championship and Cuba is going to play in Pool B along with current champion Brazil, Germany, South Korea, Tunisia, and Finland.

Poland and Serbia will be the opening match this Saturday.

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UEFA on Thursday presented Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo with its Best Player in Europe Award.

The Portuguese international and reigning Ballon d'Or beat German World Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Dutch winger Arjen Robben in the vote by a panel of 54 journalists.

Ronaldo, 29, set a Champions League record in 2013-2014, knocking in 17 goals during the campaign that culminated in Real Madrid's 10th win in Europe's pre-eminent club tourney.

He scored 51 goals for the Blancos in 51 matches in all competitions to lead La Liga in scoring and share Europe's Golden Boot with Luis Suarez.

"I'm really happy so I must say thanks to my teammates because without the team, individual awards would not be possible," Ronaldo said after accepting the award from UEFA President Michel Platini following the 2014-2015 Champions League draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Ronaldo has been one of the three finalists for the Best Player in Europe every year since the prize was established in 2011, but this is the first time he has won.

Neuer and Robben both play for Bayern Munich, which won the Bundesliga and German Cup.