Rodríguez from Havana, London 2012
Paralympic Champion, was defeated on this occasion
in the 63 kilograms final by Ukrainian Iryna Husieva.
Meanwhile Jiménez, from Sancti
Espiritucs, bronze medal winner in London 2012,
fought in the 100 kilograms final but was defeated
by Adiljan Tulendbaev, from Uzbekistan.
Other notable results were Yordani
Fernandez’s bronze medal which she secured in the
100 kilograms category in her first appearance at
the Championship, held in the Colorado Springs
Olympic Stadium. The remaining Cuban fighters,
Paralympic gold medal winners, Isao Cruz (81 kg –
Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008) and Jorge Hierrezuelo
(90kg – London 2012) were unable to secure podium
positions after finishing in fifth and seventh place
respectively.
Cuban Gerardo Rodríguez, took
seventh place in the 73 kilograms, earning him and
the aforementioned athletes, points to qualify for
the Paralympic Games in Río de Janeiro 2016.
They should be able to secure their
tickets to Río if they perform well in the Parapan
American Games in Toronto 2015, given that they lost
the direct pass to the 2016 Olympics which a gold
medal would have won them.
In addition to the individual
competition, team events also took place, in which
Cuba did not participate as all its representatives
are visually impaired while the rules stipulate that
at least one competitor must by blind. Brazil was
crowned champion of the men’s teams and Russia, the
women’s. (Excerpts from Jit)
