Leyanis Pérez and Liadagmis Povea lead the Cuban team that will compete at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, where they will attempt to return to the podium in the triple jump. Both athletes have been officially confirmed by the national sports commission as part of a six-member delegation set to compete between March 20 and 22.

Gold and silver medalists, respectively, at last year's edition in Nanjing, the two competitors are now poised for a fresh challenge on the international stage. Pérez, who also claimed the outdoor world title in 2025, currently holds the second position in the qualifying rankings for the Polish event. With a mark of 14.75 meters recorded on February 7 in Moscow, the athlete from Pinar del Río trails Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas (14.95 meters, February 14 in Spain), setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch between the two rivals.

Povea secured her berth with a mark of 13.96 meters, also achieved in Spain on February 14. Although she did not reach the required qualifying standard of 14.15 meters, her result placed her 13th in the rankings, within the 16 spots allocated for the event.

The Caribbean delegation is rounded out by triple jumpers Andy Hechavarría (17.03 meters) and Lázaro Martínez (16.71 meters), long jumper Jorge Hodelín (8.18 meters), and Greisys Roble, who qualified for the 60-meter hurdles by ranking 40th out of 48 available spots.

In a separate interview with JIT, national commissioner Rolando Charroo noted that the participation of all athletes will serve, among other objectives, as preparation for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, without overlooking individual goals.

"It is clear that Leyanis will go to defend her title. For Povea and Lázaro, the idea is to achieve a strong result that keeps them at the elite level, and young Hodelín will face an excellent development opportunity," said the official.

Regarding Hechavarría, Charroo indicated that the objective is to stabilize his performance with marks above 17 meters, while Roble will face a highly competitive field where she will be measured against her own personal bests.

Although official attendance figures for this year's championship have not yet been released, they are expected to approach those of the previous edition, when 517 athletes from 118 countries participated.