AREQUIPA, Peru – Cuban parataekwondo will have its last bet on Saturday at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with Lidia Montes de Oca, in her attempt to obtain a medal and open the medal table for the Island.
Montes de Oca will have her first fight in the 65 kilograms, K44 category, against Serbian Jelena Rasic.
The coach of the Antillean Néstor Rafael Pérez commented to Latin Press that her student, bronze medallist at the VII Parapan American Games, will give everything to get on the podium.
According to the coach, the Cubans prepared with a focus on measuring themselves against more experienced and better trained opponents, as they did not have the number of competitions they needed for the tournament.
He also acknowledged that although Cuban parataekwondo is in good health, with the increase in its practice and the number of athletes, it still does not have the desired mass appeal.
We are missing the electronic system and being able to participate in more international events to improve the ranking and be adapted to the most modern technology with which the points are marked, he said.
Among the opponents, Pérez highlighted the quality of the Peruvian Angélica Espinoza, champion in this event of the 47 kilos, and the Brazilian Debora Bezerra (65), two of the best parataekwondo athletes. from Latin America.
He also considered Brazil to be the strongest nation in the region with the best trained athletes and the greatest number of people, then he placed Mexico, and one step below Cuba, Chile and Venezuela.
Cuba’s debut at the current Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was marked by the performance of Lisbeth Rodríguez (K44) in the 47 kg division of parataekwondo.
A report from the sports environment Hit The Cuban lost 11-21 to Afghan Zakia Khudadadi, from the refugee team.
Next, Leydis Posada (ST) competed in the contest individual recurve bow competition. After 12 rounds of six shots, the athlete had 462 points, which placed her in 23rd place in the standings.
In addition, Raciel González was left off the podium in the 100 meters of the T47 class in para-athletics, who did not achieve the time of 10.74 that he previously recorded in the heat qualifying and would have given him a silver medal.
