Havana, November 2 (JIT)-- Cuban freestyle wrestlers gave a pleasing performance this Wednesday at the XIX Pan American Games, winning two silver medals and one bronze medal with four representatives on the mat.
One of the halls of the Olympic Training Center hosted the actions in the categories of 57, 74, 97 and 125 kg, in all cases with reigns of the United States, one of the great world powers in this style.
The national team directed by Julio Mendieta, Arturo Silot (97 kg) and Franklyn Marén (74 kg) into the finals, synonymous of assuring at least the silver medal.
Osmany Diversent (57 kg) had to compete for the bronze medal, which he won, and Ibrain Torres (125 kg) left the competition after his first performance, being undoubtedly below expectations.
The three medals are good results, said Mendieta to JIT, aware that the main options for titles lie with the experienced Alejandro Valdes (65 kg) and Yurieski Torreblanca (86 kg), although it will not be easy.
The young Silot debuted with technical superiority over Chilean Matias Uribe (11-0), before an important victory in the semifinals against Venezuelan Cristian Sarco (5-0).
In the final awaited him the stellar Kyle Snyder, Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and three-time world champion, who beat him 14-4.
Marén defined the fate of his competition at the start against Canadian Adam Thomson. The bout was so close that it ended with an identical 4-4 scoreboard, but with an advantage for the Antillean due to the quality of the scoring actions. The semifinal was more comfortable against the Honduran Luis Barrios (6-1).
In the final, the young Tyler Berger did just enough to defeat the Cuban 3-0, unable to perform technical action in the second period after the initial period dedicated to study, move and tire his opponent, as he explained.
Diversent defeated Venezuelan Pedro Mejías 5-3 in the quarterfinals, but in the semifinals he lost 12-14 to Colombian Oscar Tigreros. For the bronze medal, he beat Hernan Almendra of Argentina.
Besides Snyder and Berger, the other champions of the day were also Americans Zane Richards (57 kg) and Mason Parris (125 kg).
Four years ago, in the Lima 2019 edition, Cuban bookmakers won two crowns, a silver medal and three bronze medals.
