Special thanks to Radio Havana Cuba's Raúl Rodríguez -- reporting from Tokyo, Japan -- for his news story in Spanish. ¡Gracias Raulito!
Tokyo, August 3 (RHC) - Cuba moved up to 13th place in the Tokyo-2020 medal table, shared with Hungary, after a day marked by spectacular triumphs in canoeing with the duo of Serguei Torres and Fernando Dayán and boxer Roniel Iglesias.
Torres (34 years old) and Dayán (22) made history for Cuban canoeing in the Sea Forest Canal, by breaking the odds in the 1000-meter C-2 against the Chinese and German duos, with the best time in the history of the Olympic Games (3.24.995 minutes).
The Cuban boat remained behind the leaders for almost the entire race, but with about 100 meters to go, they lifted their bogue and displaced the world champions from China in the photo finish (3.25.198). Germany took bronze (3.25.615).
In boxing, Roniel Iglesias led the way with three wins and two losses.
With a fiery and precise boxing, Roniel (69 kg) repeated his triumph of London-2012, defeating in the dispute for the crown 5-0 to Britain's Pat MacCormack, world runner-up in 2019. For the experienced fighter it was his third Olympic medal, two gold.
World champion Andy Cruz (64) defeated Wanderson de Oliveira and Rio champion Julio Cesar La Cruz (91) defeated Abner Teixeira, in both cases by points.
Yosvany Veitía, who lost 4-1 to the British Gafal Yafal in a great fight, and Lázaro Alvarez, defeated 3-2 by the Russian Albert Batyrgaziev, could not win. For Lázaro it was his third Olympic bronze.
In athletics, Cristian Napoles qualified for the triple jump final with the fourth best time among all the finalists (17.08 m), while Andy Diaz was unable to compete due to injury.
The Greco wrestling event saw the surprise elimination of Rio champion Ismael Borrero (67 kg), who fell in his first outing on the mat 3-2 against Ramaz (Georgia). Daniel Gregorich, meanwhile, won his first bout, but fell in the second against Metwally (Egypt) and was also left out of the medal division.
On Wednesday, the greatest medal hopes for Cuba are in the fists of Arlen Lopez, who will seek to repeat his gold medal from Rio, now in 81 kg against the difficult Benjamin Whitaker (USA).
Young Yarisleidys Cirilo and Katherine Nuevo will be in the second date of canoeing in the Sea Forest Canal and in athletics Yorgelis Rodriguez will have the first four events of the heptathlon, while Roxana Gomez will seek to be included in the final of the 400 meters.
Cuba is currently in thirteenth place in the medal standings, equal with Hungary, with a good harvest of 11 medals (4-4-3).
China continues to lead with 32 golds, eight more than the United States.
Special thanks to Radio Havana Cuba's Raúl Rodríguez -- reporting from Tokyo, Japan -- for his news story in Spanish. ¡Gracias Raulito!
