With the presence of 15 countries and the same number of duets in each gender, today began the fourth phase of the NORCECA Circuit Beach Volleyball, in Resort Barcelo Solymar-Arenas Blancas tourist destination of Varadero, 145 kilometers east of Havana.

Canada and Cuba respectively with 4 couples, two male and two female, as well as the United States with two pairs for men and one for women, are among the nations most represented; then six countries with a pair in both genders and all other men, except Mexico and Guatemala, who only traveled with 2 and 1 female partner respectively.

"I congratulate the Organizing Committee of Cuba, especially the local Olympic trichampion Mireya Luis, supervisor by NORCECA, as they have made a great effort, training court and competition in perfect condition, with all the requirements and very well located," said César Daniel Osuna, technical director of the event.

For Cuba, highlights the presence of the Pan American subheads Toronto Lianma Leila Flores and Martinez who this time will play separately with Yanileidis Sanchez and Lidianni Echevarria respectively, in order to help in the development of the girls with less international presence ahead of the Pre-Olympic where there should be the four of them.

For men, intervene Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzalez bronze in the Canadian continental appointment, medalists at the circuit last year and gold in the first phase of this in Cayman Islands. Also Karell Peña and Daicel Quesada, monarchs at the second stop held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and with experience in previous events of this type.

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Cuba continues without adding medals after five days of competitions at the World Judo Championships, of Astana, Ksajastán.

The defeats of Asley Gonzalez and Yalennis Castillo, and Onix Cortes' injury cut the main aspirations of the Cuban delegation.

Gonzalez, runner of London 2012 Olympic Games was beaten in his second start for more Shido 2-1 by German Aaron Hildebrand.

The also monarch of Rio de Janeiro 2013, did not present himself in the same way as in the debut when he defeated by Yuko, Hungarian Gabor Ver.

On the same day, the injury of Onix Cortés, bronze medalist of the previous edition, stopped any option of the Cubans to play for the first places.

Cortes won his first bout by Yuko to Chinese Chen Fei, but 46 seconds until the end of the combat, she injured her left shoulder in one of the attacks carried out, and scored two penalties.

Cortes didn't compete against Russian Irina Gazieva, in order to preserve her for future competitions ahead to the qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

For Saturday, the last day of the individual tournament, all hopes of Cuba lie in the London Olympic champion and double world champion, Idalys Ortiz in over 78 kg and Jose Armenteros in 100 kilos and Alex Garcia in over 100 kg.

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Only a few hours remain in the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, which has become a gift for the millions of followers of Cuba with the most expected awards.

Discus thrower Denia Caballero and pole vaulter Yarisley Silva obtained their gold and triple jumper Pedro Pablo Pichardo added a silver, which despite not being the best, confirmed him as a big athlete and extended the harvest of the Cuban delegation.

Friday began with the decathlon, Yordanis García among participants, while Yulenmis Aguilar did not accede to the end of the javelin, and then only Cuba will follow the performance of long relief for men.  Pan American runners Yoandys Lescay, Raidel Acea, Williams Collazo, Adrian Chacon and Osmaidel Pellicier, trained in Beijing for days under the sight of Eloína Kerr and aim to reach the final.

The discussion of medals would leave behind 20 years of waiting, because the last step of this kind was achieved in the competitions of Gothenburg 1995.

Cuba now covers the second heat in the seventh lane and will have among its opponents to the Americans, who will do it for sixth, and the Jamaicans, who will do it for eighth.

These quartets are the ones with the best marks, 2:54.29 and 2:56.75, in that order, and go as favorite to keep with two of the three direct tickets of each series.

Also Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil aspire to the qualifications also with better credentials than Cuba.

The other segment includes Great Britain, Bahamas and Poland, with the best marks.
The semifinals will be held on Saturday morning and Sunday night will be the closing ceremony.