RHC Olympics Update no.8 - 22 September 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Olympics Update no.8 - 22 September 2000 . CUBA TAKES ANOTHER MEDAL IN THE FINAL DAY OF JUDO COMPETITIONS Sydney, September 22 (RHC) -- The Cuban national women's judo team finished its performance in the Sydney Olympics with another silver medal. On this occasion, it was Daima Beltran in the more than 78-kilo division. The island's representative lost in the gold dispute with Chinese Hua Yuan, who walked away with the title by the referees' decision, called a Han Tei, since the bout concluded in a tie. In statements following the match, Beltran had this to say: "I think I could have done more for the victory. It was Han Tei but I could have done more as I did in the other bouts. I know the Cuban people are very demanding and everyone wants the gold but I gave the best of myself to get the title. I'm not happy but I believe that our team's performance has been outstanding." In men's, in the more than 100 kilo division, French David Douillet repeated his performance of the 1996 Atlanta Games and earned his second Olympic gold after beating Japanese Shinichi Shinohara in finals. The bronze medals went to Russian Temerlan Tmenov and Estonian Indre Pertelson. Cuba was the only Latin American country that earned gold medals in the Olympic judo tournament in women's 52 and 70 kilos with Legna Verdecia and Sibelis Veranes, respectively. The island's representatives also took two silver medals in women's 56 kilos with Driulis Gonzalez and in more than 78 kilos with Daima Beltran. The Cuban men's judo team also grabbed a bronze in the 60-kilo division with Manolo Poulot. CUBA DEFEATS AUSSIES IN THE BASEBALL COMPETITION Sydney, September 22 (RHC) -- The Cuban baseball team made sure its first Olympic loss did not turn into a losing streak and bounced back from their first-ever defeat by beating host Australia 1-0 Friday behind their best big-game pitcher, Jose Ariel Contreras. Luis Ulacia singled home a run in the third inning and Contreras allowed only three singles in a complete game that made the Cubans winners again. The main question was how Cuba, now with 4 wins and one loss, would respond to its first Olympic defeat to the Netherlands on Wednesday when they showed little emotion as they walked off the field that day. The island's team managed only one run in the little more than 7 innings of Shane Bennett's pitching, and needed some help getting it. Australian right-fielder Glenn Reeves got a slow start on Miguel Caldes' slicing drive and had to lunge for it. The ball popped out of his glove when he hit the ground hard, resulting in a double, and Ulacia brought in the run with a hard, rolling hit to right field. Contreras took it from there, striking out 10 with a sharp breaking ball and a fastball that registered 97 mph on the scoreboard. Contreras, one of 12 players on the Cuban roster who got gold medals in Atlanta four years ago, pitched two vital games in the Pan American meet last year. He beat the Dominican Republic and shut down the United States in a 5-1 win for the Pan Am championship. Cuba will play the United States on Saturday night in the second-to-last game of the Olympic round robin. Both teams are in line to advance to the medal round, where they could meet again. Cuba won the gold in both Barcelona and Atlanta, undefeated and rarely challenged. In other results, the United States had to sweat to remain undefeated in its victory 4-2 over Italy. Japan took an easy win over South Africa 8-0 and South Korea shut out the Netherlands 2-0. RUSSIA AND BRAZIL STILL UNDEFEATED IN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL Sydney, September 22 (RHC) -- On Friday, the Cuban national women's volleyball team won its third match in the Sydney Olympics. On this occasion, the island's squad took the win over Italy in three consecutive sets 25-18, 25-21 and 25-20. In the meantime, Russia remained undefeated with a tight win over Germany in five sets, 25-23, 23-25, 14-25, 28-26 and 15-6. Brazil also kept its winning streak and beat Croatia 25-21, 25-23 and 25-23. In other results, the Peruvian team said good-bye to the Olympics after its loss before South Korea 19-25, 25-19, 30-28 and 25-17, while China kept its aspirations alive with its win over Kenya in three sets. The United States, for its part, smashed host Australia 25-11, 25-17 and 25-10. CUBAN BOXERS CONTINUE THEIR GOOD PERFORMANCE IN SYDNEY Sydney, September 22 (RHC) -- Three Cuban boxers continued claiming victories in the Olympic boxing tournament Friday. In 48 kilos, 1996 Atlanta champion in 51 kilos, Maikro Romero outclassed Romanian Velicu Marian and will now face Ukrainian Valeri Sidorenko in quarter finals. In this division, the United States suffered an important defeat when world champion Bryan Viloria lost to French Brahim Aslouh 6-4. In 60 kilos, Cuban world champion Mario Kindelan took his first win of the tournament over Pongsit Wiangviset from Thailand, 14-8, and will take on Greek Tigkran Ouzliat in quarter finals. Finally, in 75 kilos, Jorge Gutierrez defeated Greek Antonios Giannoulas on points, 20-7 and will face Romanian Adrian Diaconu in the next round. TRACK AND FIELD COMPETITIONS BEGIN WITH GOOD PERFORMANCES BY CUBAN ATHLETES Sydney, September 22 (RHC) -- Cuban high jumper and world record holder Javier Sotomayor classified for the high jump finals clearing 2,27 meters in the first day of track and field competitions. The Cuban athlete and the current world champion, Russian Vyacheslav Voronin, had no trouble clearing the height. However, that was not the case of 1996 Olympic champion Damian Austin, from the United States who could not make it to Sunday's final round after clearing only 2,20 meters. Meanwhile, in women's triple jump, Cuban Yamile Aldama will be the only Latin American representative present in Sunday's finals with a mark of 14,27 meters in the classificatory round. In other results, Cuban javelin thrower Emeterio Gonzalez also classified for Saturday's finals with a throw of 82,64 meters. Also Cuban Isbel Luaces could make it with a throw of 75,17 meters. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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