Athletics
The stellar Cuban athlete Yipsi Moreno, 3-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver in hammer throw, officially retired from active sports during a Gala for the 110 years of Athletics in Cuba, which also honored other figures of the discipline.
About the tribute received, and emotionally moved, Yipsi Moreno described the moment as "indescribable" and "exciting" and thanked all the Cuban people saying:
"I am very happy to finish well, surrounded by all those who have made Athletics work and be what it is today worldwide... I am very grateful to my family, friends, and everyone who trusted me and the ones who gave me a hand to go forward."
At the ceremony held at the National Museum of Bellas Artes, Cuban athletic events were recalled and received recognition from the National Sports Institute (INDER), former athletes, coaches, judges and officials of what is known as the King Sport.
Among those honored were legendary figures such as sprinters Alberto Juantorena and Silvio Leonard, javelin throwers María Caridad Colón and Osleidys Menéndez, hurdler Dayron Robles, and the shot put player Yumileidi Cumbá.
Judo
Cuban judokas Idalys Ortiz and Asley González concluded with silver medals in the annual closure of the sport in the Grand Slam of Tokyo, Japan, where the International Judo Federation recognized the work of Cuban Professor Ronaldo Veitía.
London 2012 Olympic champion and Rio de Janeiro 2013 Global holder, and world tittle in Chelyabinsk 2014 in more than 78 kg, the Artemisan Idalys Ortiz, reached the final to beat there by Ippon but yielding by similar result to the local Nami Inamori; the bronzes went to French Emilie Andeol and Ukrainian Iryna Kindzerska.
Parallel, at the Metropolitan Gymnasium, Villa Clara's figure Asley González closed 2nd in the 90 kg gold battle facing promising local Mashu Baker, a clash decided for less Shido (penalty) 2-1, while South Korean Han Dong Gwak and Japanese Daiki Nishiyama culminated 3rd.
For his part, José Armenteros came in 7th place in the 100 kg., while Yalennis Castillo at 78 kg., and Alex García in over 100 kg., also finished further away than expected.
The medal was led again by the hosts with 11-5-7, followed by Georgia (1-0-1), Germany and the United States (1-0-0), South Korea (0-3-3) and Cuba (0-2-0).
Finally, in the event, the President of the International Judo Federation (IJF by its English acronym), Marius Vizer, awarded the plaque and gold medal of the entity to the Cuban Professor Ronaldo Veitia for his long and fruitful work as a coach, who since 1986 has been the head of the Cuban women's national team accumulating 5 golds, 9 silvers and 10 bronze medals in Olympics, and 57 medals in world championships.
Handball
Cuba failed with China and suffered its 2nd straight loss in the qualifying stage in Group B at the World Handball Championship for ladies which is hosted by Denmark.
One day after yielding 22-27 against Poland, the Caribbean team fell 30-39, in a game where Livia Veranes led the Cuban offensive with 7 points, followed by Lisandra Lussón and Gleinys Reyes with 5 and 4 goals, respectively.
Monday is a rest day, and on Tuesday, the Cubans will take on the Angolans.
Titan Tropic
The Colombian Diego Tamayo led the 1st stage of Titan Tropic Cuba, Mountain Bike Race this Sunday, which covered the route between the capital and Las Terrazas, in the western province of Artemisa.
Tamayo ran the 76 km. in 2:27:59 hours, 23 sec. ahead of Spanish Ibon Zugasti, who was followed by the Cuban leader in route, José Mojica, 31 sec. from the leader, and the sldo Spanish José Luis Carrasco.
In the case of the 2 Cuban females, Danai Martinez entered the 2nd at 2:25 min. from Portuguese Filomena Gomes, while Olga Echenique closed the 5th among 19 contestants at 32:21 min.
The 2nd stage will cover 82.5 km. between Las Terrazas and Soroa cities, also in western Cuba.
Wrestling
Traditional Granma-Cerro Pelado National Wrestling Tournaments will be held next year in June and not in February as usual, it has been officially announced.
In the annual review of the sport, the new National Commissioner of the discipline, Prof. Luis de la Portilla, said that the program change was taken into account, in an exceptional way, by the proximity of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro-2016.
