Cuban Portuondo wins bronze in regional fencing competition

Havana, August 4 (JIT) - Cuba's Narianna Portuondo won the bronze medal in the sabre competition of the Central American and Caribbean Fencing Championships of San Salvador 2022.

Portuondo conceded 13-15 hits in the final against Dominican Heyddys Valentín, who won the title among the 33 fencers registered.

Of the other Cubans competing, Sulema Vinnet placed seventh and Orquídea Ferrer 17th. Therefore, Portuondo and Vinnet guaranteed their passes to the individual competition of the Central American and Caribbean Games of San Salvador 2023, to the pride of professor Yosmel Rodríguez Lafferte.

On Wednesday, the epee fencers also competed, from whom more was expected since they had already qualified for the Pan American Games of Santiago 2023.

However, Yordan Ferrer, Ringo Quintero and Dariel Carrion had to be content with places five to seven in an event with 38 athletes. The first two won tickets to attend the 2023 Salvadoran call-up.

"The three lost the pass to the medal discussion. The only thing left for us to do is to get even in the team competition," said Jaine Hernandez, head coach of the National Fencing Commission and professor of the epee fencers, from the headquarters of the National Fencing Commission.

In the quarterfinals, Yordan lost 11-15 to Mexico's Pablo Florido, the eventual bronze medalist; Carrion lost 12-15 to Costa Rica's Bradley Johnsotn (silver) and the most experienced of the Cubans, Ringo Quintero, lost 11-15 to Colombia's Michael Lozano (bronze). The gold medal went to Mexican Daniel Sauri.

This Thursday, the foilists and the epeeists will cross swords to close the individual competition. On Friday, the team competition will begin, which will give seven quotas to the San Salvador 2023 Games.