To the names of Milaimys Marín (76 kg) and Greco-Romans Luis Orta (67 kg), Gabriel Rosillo (97 kg), and Mijaín López (130 kg), others wrestlers achieved their goals and they are: Yusneylis Guzmán (50 kg), Alejandro Valdés (65 kg), Geandry Garzón (74 kg), and Arturo Silot (97 kg) in Freestyle wrestling and Kevin de Armas (60 kg) and Yosvani Peña (77 kg) in the Greco-Roman wrestling style.

The event, with seat in Acapulco, Mexico, granted tickets to each division finalists and no medal bouts were held in the tournament, nor even repechage.

The case of Yusneylis Guzmán is one to highlight for sure. Even though she started the competition as the favorite to win, thanks to her Pan American crown in Santiago de Chile 2023, she arrived in the competition venue from a training camp in China and the coaching staff chose to rest her the previous week. Nonetheless, she fought brilliantly this weekend and defeated Ecuadorian Jacqueline Mollocana, a top level competitor.

The coaching staff did not feel pleased with judges in the bout that faced Santiago 2023 runner-up Laura Herin (53 kg) and US athlete Dominique Olivia Parrish, who finally won 7-6 and all points were granted in the same action, which was eye-popping.

In any case, the staff is confident that both, Laura and Ángela Álvarez (57 kg) can be granted access to the other qualifying tournament, which is the World Tournament to be held in Istanbul next May.

Freestyle wrestlers were outstanding. Each performed in their own way. Garzón, 40 years old, granted their participation to an Olympic Games again when he was almost ruled out. Something similar occurred to Alejandro, who performed poorly at the Pan American Games. In the moment of truth, the native from Santiago de Cuba released all of his world class lineage and beat Argentine Agustín Destribats, runner-up the previous weekend.

Arturo Silot, silver medal in Santiago 2023, was brilliant. He defeated by technical fall in his two bouts, including the one against Canadian Nishan Preet Randhawa, one of the best in the division.

Pan American title holder Yurieski Torreblanca (86 kg) underperformed this time. He was ahead in the score 10-6 against Mexican Anthony Valencia and lost by fall in an oversight.

In Greco-Roman wrestling, Kevin looked pretty solid against American Ildar Hafizov, in a rematch bout of the Santiago 2023 final, where the American was better. Yosvani won easily against Canadian Jhon Yeats and Brazilian Junior Joilson de Brito.

Daniel Gregorich (87 kg), regarded as the top candidate for the crown at his weight, fell unexpectedly against the American Spencer Woods and could not reach the ticket for Paris 2024.

In any case, he must also be in Istanbul, along with Torreblanca and at least two of the girls, to seek to increase the Cuban presence in the Paris 2024 fight.

Luckily, he should also compete in Istanbul, along with Torreblanca, to grow the number of Cuban wrestlers in Paris 2024.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff