Cuban fencer finishes eighth in Pan-American Fencing Championship

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 3 (acn) Epee specialist Thaila Martínez was the best Cuban in the Pan-American Fencing Championship for cadets and youths, as she managed to be included among the eight best athletes of that tournament taking place at Havana´s Sports City Coliseum.

Martinez advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's epee event with two wins, as she first won 13-7 over Peruvian Julia Bermejo, and also beat 10-7 American Alexis Hedvat, but then she was defeated 15-7 by US Sofia Komar.
Two other Cuban representatives, Yanara Recio and Rachel Rodriguez, lost in their first bouts in the round of 64 of that same event.
In the women's saber event, local fencer Orquidia de la Caridad Ferrer debuted with a 15-10 win over Venezuelan Nissmary Zambrano but then lost 6-15 to Mexican Dara Villa.
Meanwhile, the three Cubans involved in the men´s foil event, Nelson Suárez, Angel Calvo and Lekián Valdés, all lost in their debut.
In addition to the hosts, fencers from Argentina, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, the United States and Venezuela also attend this contest.
The Pan American Fencing Championship for cadets and youths runs until April 7th.