Cuba for gold and bronze in Norceca U-23 Beach Volleyball Championship

Cuba's Damian Gomez-Eblis Veranes will compete for the gold medal and Maykelin Drik-Mileidy Paret for the bronze medal in the under-23 stop of the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit 2024, which closes this Wednesday in the international beach resort of Punta Cana.

With their outstanding performances, they secured their qualification to the II Pan American Junior Games Asuncion 2025 to be held in July in the Paraguayan capital.

The undefeated Guantanameros will have the Americans Ayden Keeter-Carson Barnes Guardado in their sights, after defeating the Salvadoran brothers Yoel and Christopher Guardado 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-10) in 46 minutes of battle in the semifinal round.

For their part, the northerners advanced to the title by easily overcoming the hosts George Wilmore-Rolvin Maldonado in two sets (21-10, 21-15) and 37 minutes to add their third success in four outings.

Meanwhile, the women's duo of Drik and Paret were unable to defeat Isabella Martinez and Ella Connor of the United States, winners in the semifinal by 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) in half an hour.

However, they will have the chance to achieve their first podium as a duo in this circuit, as they will face Costa Rica's Laura Molina-Aliza Aguilar for the bronze medal.

The Ticas lost their undefeated record when they lost to the local Crismil Paniagua-Darlenys Olivo in two identical sets of 21-19 in 48 minutes of intense action.

This is the second phase that the two Cuban teams have participated consecutively this month. Juan Walfrido Salas' students won the title last Friday and the pair coached by Iván Anibal Dipoté finished in eleventh place, although it is fair to recognize the international inexperience of Mileidy.