Baseball
Alfonso Urquiola was appointed as director of the Cuban baseball team, which is formed with local college athletes whose age does not exceed 25 years, for the bilateral top against the United States scheduled for July 23rd to 27th in Cuban territory.
"Alfonso Urquiola will lead the team, as it is but a friendly cap, not a formal competition," said at a press conference the national director of baseball, Hyginus Vélez, suggesting that Victor Mesa, named for a 4-year term national coach in 2013, will continue in office for official competitions.
Urquiola, who also directed the national team of Panama in 2007, won several national championships with teams of Pinar del Rio and led the winning Cuban team at Pan-American Games in Winnipeg-1999 and qualified for Sydney 2000.
The official said that the Havana's Latinoamericano Stadium is so far the headquarters of the 5 games but added he hopes to bring some games to Pinar del Rio's Capitán San Luis stadium, and Matanzas' Victoria de Girón stadium, homes of the champion and national runner-up, respectively.
Cuba-USA bilateral baseball stops were resumed in July 2012 at the Latinoamericano Stadium. On that occasion, the Cuban team won 3-2, but the Americans took revenge and swept all 5 games played last year.
Chess
After a first day of draws, the Capablanca Chess Memorial Elite Group will seek its first winner with face offs between last year's champion, Hungarian Zoltan Almasi and Leinier Domínguez, world number 10 and 1st seeded in the lid, Cuban Lazaro Bruzon vs. Ivanchuk, and Philippine Wesley So against Spanish Francisco Vallejo.
Leinier tied in the 1st round with the Ukrainian GM Vasily Ivanchuk, top winner of these tournaments with 6 in 52 moves of a Ruy Lopez opening as well as Bruzón vs. So, and Almasi vs. Vallejo.
The Premier Group the only Cuban victory was given by GM and national monarch, Isam Ortiz against his countryman Yasser Quesada.
Homage
The Cuban Ivan Pedroso, long jumper Olympic champion in Sydney 2000 and 9 times World Champ, paid a tribute of admiration to Yago Lamela, who died at the age of 36, considering him as "the best long jumpers of Spain" and remembered the memorable duel held with the Spaniard in the final of the World Indoor of Maebashi, Japan in 1999.
"After the Sydney Games, Maebashi's final was the most exciting of my career," told Iván Pedroso to EFE in Spain.
"His sudden loss has taken all of us by surprise... his death has impacted the world of sports, for Spain and for me as well, as I admired him and we were friends... I reiterate my deepest condolences to all his family and friends", said the former athlete in Havana.
Cycling
None of the 3 Cuban cyclists participating in the opening of the Continental Championship in Puebla, Mexico, got tickets for the Pan-American Games Toronto-2015.
Yennier Lopez closed 9th in the time trial, Arnold Alcolea registered 52:17.870 to finish in 16th place in the 39.6 km., and Marliés Mejías ended 11th with 28:35.620 min. in the 20 km.
The female lid was mastered by the American Evelyn Stevens (26:27.635), Serica Guluma of Colombia (26:40.308), and the northerner Megan Guarnier (27:33.242).
Colombia showed its dominance in the men's competition by winning titles Pedro Antonio Herrera in the elite category and Rodrigo Contreras Pinzón in U-23 category.
