Toronto 2015
In the 6th competition day of the 17th Pan-American Games Toronto 2015, the Cuban sports delegation holds the 4th place in the medal table with a harvest of 16 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals for a total of 46.
Meanwhile, host Canada (33-30-20-83) commands the continental competition, supported by the US (28-28-30-86) and Brazil (16-14-25-55) sportive embassies.
But let's take a brief look at the performance of Cuban athletes in the last hours and their upcoming events.
The rower Angel Fournier and gymnast Manrique Larduet won the gold medals on Wednesday in the most outstanding performances by Cuba. Thus, on the aquatic trail of the Royal Canadian Henley, Fournier stopped the clocks in 7:51.39 min. to be crowned in the pair of short oars modality, followed by host Rob Gibson (7:57.94) and Argentine Brian Rosso (8: 01.38).
The best Cuban rower thus joined his 2nd title in the greatest continental lid after dominating on previous days, together with Eduardo Rubio, the double sculls of short oars modality, plus achieving another silver medal in 4 sculls of short oars.
In turn, Larduet closed in style the return of Cuba to the Pan podium of artistic gymnastics, to win the gold metal in the horse jumps with 15,125 points, ahead of American Donnell Whittenburg (14,962) and the Brazilian Caio Souza (14.925), then reaching silver in parallel bars with 15,650 units, only surpassed by the Colombian Jossimar Calvo (15,700), and finally closed 4th in fixed bars to complete a superb performance that also included the subtitle in the event of maximum accumulator and 1 bronze medal in the rings.
Wushu provided the other 2 medals won by Cuba on Wednesday through the gladiators Miguel Martinez and Alan Vera.
In the meantime, Greco-Roman wrestling added the other 2 medals gotten by Cuba on Wednesday thanks to its gladiators Miguel Martínez and Alan Vera.
The Cuban Martinez owned the 3rd place in the 66 kg. to overcome Colombian Alexis Cuero by 6-0, while his compatriot Vera exceeded the Honduran Oscar Martinez 8-0 in the match for the bronze medal in the 85 kilos.
Below expectations remained the Olympic champion in sports shooting Leuris Pupo, who ranked 4th in the rapid gun shot at 25 meters, an event dominated by American Brad Balsley.
In the women's section, Claudia Hernandez was the only Cuban present at the end of the 25-meter pistol in which she ended in 8th position, while her teammate Laina Perez ended the 9th in the qualification round.
However, modest performances sealed Cuban weightlifters Alejandro Cisneros and Asniel Rodriguez after settling at the 5th and 6th places, respectively, in the 105 kg division, won by the Venezuelan Jesus Gonzalez.
Although they enjoyed the merit to be included in the final of their respective events, Cuban swimmers Armando Barrera and Elisbet Gámez had to settle for 8th place in the 200 meters backstroke and freestyle, respectively.
The Cuban baseball team secured their place in the semifinals next Saturday with a 9-5 victory over Dominican Republic, to be ratified in the 4th place with 3 wins and 2 setbacks, behind Canada (4-0), Puerto Rico (3-1) and the USA (3-1). Cuba must face Nicaragua today to win 1 victory that may place it among the semifinalists.
In the women's beach volleyball tournament, the Cuban pair of Lianma Liela Flores and Martinez remained unbeaten by defeating on Wednesday 2-1 (19-21, 21-15 and 15-13) the Argentine duo of Ana Gallay and Georgina Klug.
Also, the male cast of Cuba won 13-6 to Ecuador to take over the 7th place in water polo, while in the women's field hockey lid, the selection of the Greater Antilles yielded by a 2-3 narrow margin against Uruguay.
Maykel Reyes scored on a header in the 73rd min. to lift Cuba to a 1-0 win over Guatemala on Wednesday night in the CONCAF Gold Cup.
Cuba (1-2-0) advanced to the quarterfinals to play against the States on Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Caribbean nation's first goal of the tournament came when Alberto Gomez sent a crossing pass into the center of the box to Reyes, who headed the ball past Paulo Motta. Reyes ripped off his jersey in celebration.
Guatemala finished the tournament 0-2-1.
Cuba dominated the 2nd half and had 7 shots on goal to Guatemala's 5, and had a chance to score its first goal in the 52nd minute, but Ariel Martinez couldn't put in a header from just outside the goal box after a short pass from Reyes.
Both teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half with both registering 4 shots on goal. Thus, Guatemala nearly got on the board in the 32nd min. when Ruben Morales sent a crossing pass that Denniss Lopez couldn't quite run down. Lopez made a sliding effort on the right side of the net, but the ball sailed past him and out of play.
Cuba's best opportunity to score in the first half came in the 39th minute when Reyes raced ahead of the field to track down a long pass. But he couldn't control the ball about 12 yards from the net and a hustling Morales caught up and slid to knock the ball out of play.
A few minutes later Guatemala's Jorge Aparico sent a right-footed shot from just outside the box just over the net.
Judo
The prominent Cuban women's judo coach, Prof. Ronaldo Veitia, expressed his fully joy at the victory achieved by his pupils, who dominated that sport by countries in the Pan-American Games held in Toronto.
This is the 7th consecutive time we win, since Havana 1991, Veitia told yesterday the press minutes after Idalys Ortiz to win the gold medal in the division of more than 78 kg.
I am very happy, the girls met another great performance and it represents for me a lot in my farewell to the Pan-American Games, he said in reference to his latest foray as coach in such contests.
In addition, he announced he will go on retirement after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, after several years as the architect of the excellent results achieved by Cuban judokas in the international arena.
He also mentioned that Driulis Gonzalez --already retired, a member for many years of the national team, Olympic and universal monarch--, will be inducted into the World Hall of Fame of this sport.
In Toronto, the Caribbean island led the women's judo event with a harvest of 2 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals; while the men's team achieved 1 gold, 2 silvers and 4 bronze medals.
