Cubans ready to compete in Rio, says top sports official

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Aug 5 (acn) Antonio Becali, president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER by its Spanish acronym), said that the Cuban delegation is ready to compete in the 31st Olympic Games that will be inaugurated here today.

The head of the delegation recalled 70 of the 124 Cubans qualified to the Games are currently in the Olympic Village taking full advantage of their stay in the carioca city, headquarters of the contest from August 5 to 21.
Becali told reporters that 54 athletes still have to come to the village, 30 of them are training in several Brazilian cities and 24 others are still in Havana and will arrive in coming flights near the start of the program of their sports.
He also confirmed the purpose of being among the top 20 countries and exceed the performance of the previous event in London 2012, where five gold, three silver and six bronze medals were won.
Among the last to arrive at the Village he mentioned the judokas -five men and four women, led by Idalis Ortiz, Olympic champion and twice world monarch in more than 78 kilograms, and Asley González (90 kilos), silver Olympic medalist and world champion.
About Idalis, he said that in recent first level tournaments she has proven to be in excellent shape, with a lot of expertise, and she appears among the main trump cards of the Caribbean island.
Regarding Gonzalez, the Cuban federative noted he also exhibits very good preparation parameters, although he acknowledged having lack of combat, situation that must be solved through his high level of expertise.
The head of INDER added that this sport will have -this Saturday- the possibility of providing the first medal for Cuba, through Dayaris Mestre (48kg).
On those present at the Village, he insisted that there is a lot of discipline, high level of responsibility, total concentration on that goal. We expect good results, he said, as a gift to Fidel Casto for his 90th birthday.
Becali stated that all Cuban athletes underwent from three to four tests in the laboratory of Havana before traveling.
He also stressed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) already chose several of them to undergo tests before competitions.