Fancing

Havana, Mar 5 (JIT) - Yunior Óscar Balón Rodríguez will be the only Cuban in the fencing tournament of the Asunción 2025 Pan American Junior Games, to be held in August in the capital of Paraguay.

The fencer from Santiago secured the spot in a competition held in Paraguay, where 14 tickets were awarded for each weapon and gender.

"It was a qualifier of very high technical level. As only one quota per country was given, our athlete entered the group despite finishing in 18th place," stressed Alhajadis Bandera, president of the Cuban Fencing Federation, who accompanied the talented 19-year-old athlete. 

"In his first international competition he showed great potential," expressed the also national commissioner, referring to the boy who has barely been part of the Island's elite team for seven months and has been practicing the sport since he was 11 years old.

A reigning Cuban champion, Yunior Oscar is the son of the former member of the national saber team of the same name.

"I took my first steps with my father. Sabre is a weapon that I like because it is very dynamic," said the only fencer who will represent Cuba in the continental youth event.

In the first edition of the Games, organized in Cali 2021, in Colombia, Granma's Melisa Pérez Blanco won a bronze medal for Cuba in foil.

Cuban fencers also have ahead of them this season the qualifier for the Central American and Caribbean Games of Santo Domingo 2026, to be held from July 10 to 15 in Guatemala.