Looking to turn the long days of training into medals, on August 4 the Cuban delegation participating in the 5th Parapan American Games - beginning August 7 - departed for Toronto.
“You will be the sporting ambassadors of the Revolution, we are sure that you will return laden with medals and the pride of having given your all in every competition,” stated the President of the National Athletes’ Services Commission, Tomás Herrera, during the farewell ceremony at the José Martí Airport.
Retaining the forth place spot achieved in the previous edition of the Games, Guadalajara 2011, will be the main challenge facing the group of 56 athletes, led by star sprinter Yunidis Castillo, due to compete over eight disciplines for 71 medals in the 393 events of the tournament.
Yunidis, retuning to the track after giving birth and the delegations official flag bearer will be one of Cuba’s main hopes; due to defend her titles in the T46 (upper limb amputee, in this case her right arm) 100, 200 and 400 meters sprint competitions.
According to organizers, in addition to Yunidis another 17 track and field athletes will be competing while Cuba will also be represented in the individual judo (8), table tennis (6), weight lifting (5), swimming (5), tennis (2) and cycling (1) disciplines. The country will also see its 12 player team debut in the sitting volleyball (f) event, in addition to its tennis players who feature among the 1,600 athletes from 18 countries participating in the continental tournament.
Four years ago, in Guadalajara, Cuba took fourth place in the country medal count with 27 gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze medals, a performance which saw the county move up from its fifth place position achieved in Río de Janeiro 2007 (28-21-11) and Mexico 1999 (18-19-7).
