Dupla cubana de pelota vasca

Havana, Aug 30 (JIT) - The Cuban short paddle team competing in the 11th World Under-22 Basque Pelota Championship in Pamplona 2024, in Spain, placed itself in the discussion of the medals of the modality.

Dariel Cruz and Yohan Martínez lost this Thursday to the Spanish duo of Iker Aramendia and Telmo Charro, with 15-4 and 15-11 in two sets, but, despite the defeat, their victory over Argentina in the opening day, kept them in third place in the group with five points, so that next Saturday they will fight for the bronze medal against the Mexican team.

The rest of the Cuban participants in the competition have no chance of reaching the semifinals.

In cesta punta, Cruz came in sixth place, and the Manistas will be fighting for fifth place, both in the individual discipline and in pairs.

On Thursday, the semifinal rounds began and Spain is emerging as the great favorite, since it assured its presence in the six modalities in competition. The locals also won the gold medal and the silver medal in women's cesta punta.

Among the most outstanding notes of the championship is the performance so far of Bolivia, whose delegation, being the smallest of all those present in the Navarrese capital with only two pelotaris, will battle for the pass in search of the titles in the single and double handball modalities.

In addition to the Bolivians Juan David Vargas and Jose Esteban Soliz, the exponents of France, Mexico and Argentina will accompany the Spaniards in the semifinal matches.

As part of the celebration of the orb event for players under 22 years of age, the Navarre Federation of Basque Pelota awarded the Gold Badge to world champion pelota player Joaquín Arbeloa Álvarez and researcher José María Echeverría Larrea, in recognition of their professional, sporting and training careers in the sport, according to the event's website.