CYCLING
The Cuban women and men’s cycling teams that will contest the 8th Tour of the Argentinean city of San Luis from January 20th to the 26th will include outstanding figures in the world ranking of that sporting event.
The men’s collective will be joined by four cyclists, who just took part at the Costa Rica tour. They are Yennier Lopez, Yasmany Martinez, Jans Carlos Arias and Pedro Sibila.
The classic tour, which is considered one of the top events of its kind in The Americas, will also count on the participation of the Cuban women’s collective, which features Olympic runner-up Yoanka Gonzalez, World Pan-American Cup medalist Yudelmis Dominguez and two ladies from the youngest generations of Cuban cyclists, Marlies Mejias and Arlenis Sierra, who have also won international prizes.
Our young ladies took training till late last year and they are in very good shape, so we expect to see them make an outstanding performance in Argentina, said Cuban Cycling Federation Commissioner Hector Ruiz.
JUDO
International Judo Federation executives Vladimir Barta and Jose Humberto Rodriguez visited Havana’s Sports City center to have a first-hand look at preparations for the first classificatory championship to take place in June prior to the Olympic Games to be hosted by the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.
After touring the sports facilities, Federation Sports director Fladimir Barta described as excellent the conditions in the coliseum to hold the match. The ex-judo expert from the Czech Republic, along Humberto Rodriguez, who heads the Federation’ s Development Area, made a thorough evaluation of the facilities to host the event, which has Grand Prix category.
WATER POLO
Cuban water polo experts are optimistic towards their participation at the Central American and Caribbean games this year after goalkeeper Emilio Oms was elected the best player with the Venezuelan League, in which he and several of his colleagues made an outstanding performance.
Oms, who is from the eastern Cuban province of Camaguey, played with the team from the southern Venezuelan state of Trujillo, which also included another 17 Cubans.
The participation of the Cubans was rally terrific, since they played over a dozen games with much rigor, said National Water Polo Federation Commissioner Eduardo Medina.
SCHOOL GAMES
The inclusion at the National School Games this year of physically challenged athletes will translate into great support to the sports modality for disabled persons, and this will also include other local and international championships.
The head of the sports for the disabled athletes, Rene Jimenez, said that such decision will expand options to guarantee a full and healthy life to physically challenged athletes and will also help tap talents that will join Cuban national teams in the future.
Although all details about the initiative are not yet known, it is important to note that it is a step to include those children and youths in theses events, since they will follow up on the steps of those who have made an outstanding performance in the sports modality.