RHC Olympics Update no.6-20 September 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Olympics Update no.6 - 20 September 2000 WOMEN'S JUDO: SECOND GOLD MEDAL FOR THE ISLAND Sydney, September 20 (RHC)-- In the 70 kilo division for women, Judo expert Sibelis Veranes provided Cuba the greatest satisfaction of the day with her gold medal, defeating British Kate Howey. Bronze went to South Korean Cho Min-Sun and Ylenia Scapin from Italy. Right after the victory in the 70 kilo division, Veranes told Radio Havana Cuba:"I feel something grand... I put my heart and soul into this and is a well deserved medal. I worked very hard and put all my love and faith into the training and the excellent guidance of headcoach Ronaldo Veitia. I was confident about winning this Olympic title, the only one missing in my career." Head coach Ronaldo Veitia commented about Sibelis Veranes performance: "Sibelis had a very difficult road to the top. Her first bout was against Ylenia Scapin from Italy, who was bronze in Atlanta and who won the third place this year too. She also faced the Atlanta winner-- which at that time was in a different category-- and also had as rival a Brimingham 1999 world champion. She had very tough contenders all the way. However, all Cuban athletes had an excellent preparation before coming to Sydney. And so far I'm very pleased with results of my pupils. I was certain about this result. However, for me Driulis Gonzalez also deserved the gold medal, but judges didn't do a very good job in that match." DUTCH BEAT CUBA IN BASEBALL Sydney, September 20 (RHC)-- The Netherlands surprised the world by winning over the Cuban team at the baseball Olympic competitions underway in Sydney, Australia. Cuba's starting pitcher, Norge Luis Vera, was not in his habitual shape and had to abandon the mound in the third inning, suffring three runs which turned out to be decisive for the Dutch victory. Cuban players connected only six scattered hits and despite having two men on bases in the 9th inning, weren't able to score more runs. Many fans are questioning the changes made by headcoach Servio Borges, but the truth is that batters failed too. Now, as the U.S's New York Times put it, there's only one unbeaten team left in Olympic baseball, and it's not Cuba. The Dutch team Wednesday put an end to Cuba's 21-Olympic game win streak record with a score of 4 runs to two. It's not embarrassing, said outfielder Luis Ulacia, who added that this is why so many teams are sent to the Olympics. They don't just bring Cuba. In Barcelona, the Cubans left everyone else behind, dominating the eight-team field as it won the gold. The great Antonio Pacheco said the defeat hurts but they did not come to win undefeated and this is not the end. This game makes history, but does not at all place in jeorpardy Cuba's aspirations to revalidate its Olympic title for the third consecutive time. The USA Today newspaper points to a former Class A pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization, an ex-part-timer with the New York Yankees and a fiery college coach from Arizona State as some of those who helped stage the victory over the Cuban team. Right hander Ken Brauckmiller kept the Cubans off balance for 8-plus innings and former Yankees prospect Hensley Meulens hit a three-run double to provide the offense for the Dutch team that qualified for Sydney by winning the European championship last year. This is the first time professional players are admitted to Olympic Games, and as the New York Times says, by switching from aluminum to wooden bats and allowing professionals -- mostly minor leaguers and former major leaguers -- into the Olympic tournament this year, organizers left Cuba vulnerable. But one thing is certain, the quality of Cuban players is superb anad this defeat does not mean the end of Cuba's reign. Rivals in line for Cuba are Australia, Japan and the United States, for what may be the toughest part of the tournament. BOXING CONTINUES ITS WINNING STREAK Sydney, September 20 (RHC)-- Cuban boxers continue imposing their rythm in Australian rings, and the 8th boxer in line for the Cuban team, Isael Alvarez, won his bout today. Alvarez defeated his Italian counterpart in the third round of the fight in the 81 kilo division. Still in preliminary rounds, Roberto Rigondeaux in 54 and Rolando Guerra in 67, for their second appearance, along with Felix Savon in 91, climb into the ring today. Savon's first presentation opens the possibility for this boxer to win his third consecutive title. CUBAN ATHLETES' PERFORMANCE: ROUND-UP In women's volleyball, the Cuban team defeated South Korea three sets to nothing: 25-17; 25-13 and 25-15. Swimmer Neiser Bent, who won bronze in Altanta, though winning one of the preliminary heats in men's 200 meter back stroke, was left out of semifinals due to the remarkable times made by the rest of the contenders. In men's individual foil fencing, Elvis Gregory, Rolando Tucker and Oscar Garcia, had a sad debut and were eliminated. Cuba's four coxless scull crossed first the finishing line in repechage, securing their presence in semifinals for the 800 meter distance. The crew of Yosbel Martinez, Leonides Same, Eusebio Arcea and Yenis Hernandez left Belgium and Austria behind with a time of six minutes and 4.45 seconds. Finally, the Cuban women's basketball team scored its first victory after defeating New Zealand 74-55, following two setbacks. It was not an easy victory and the island's team was not good in the second half of the game. Poland is its next stumbling block on Thursday, but the team still keeps alive its medal aspirations. Egypt, in turn, dominated Cuba in men's handball, 29 to 26. In women's softball, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel after falling once again, this time against New Zealand, 6 runs to two. Team sports are giving Cuba a headache with poor results so far in most of those disciplines, with the exception of baseball, volleyball and women's judo. However, with this new gold medal in women's judo, Cuba climbed to place 11 in the general medal standings. The United States is number one with 7-7-5; Australia: 7-6-6 and China in third place with 6-3-7. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. Todos los derechos reservados. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= rhc-eng-12907 2000-Sep-20 17:51:37