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COLIMA, Mexico, June 27, 2021. - Cuba earned the
Tokyo Olympic ticket against Mexico at the
NORCECA Continental Cup Finals in Colima,
Mexico.
Under persistent and heavy rain for most of the
series, Cuba stormed past Mexico winning both
matches two sets to qualify to the 2020 Tokyo
Olympic Games.
Lidy Echevarría and Yanisleydis Sanchez defeated Martha
Revuelta and Zaira Orellana 21-15, 21-15. In
the first, Martha and Zaira kept Cuba’s strength
under control up to an even 8pts, but their
consecutive unforced errors gave Lidy and
Yanisleydis a chance to adjust and snatch a
comfortable 21-15 win. In the second set, the
Cuban duo worked well against Mexico’s blocks
jumping to a 10-7 lead; despite Martha’s offense
strategy and Zaira’s blocking efforts they had
no difficulties in putting the series in favor
of Cuba.
Leila Martinez and Mailen Deliz strong defense
and offense skills were tough for Mexico’s duo
of Susana Torres and María José Quintero. The
match had a couple of good rallies and great
defense from Maria Jose, but Leila and Mailen
didn’t take long to edge the young Mexican team
and seal Cuba’s ticket to Tokyo.
Lidy expressed “it’s a wonderful feeling; we
have trained a lot, day and night, until we
dropped with great sacrifices. Our coaches
demanded a lot from the entire team because they
knew that reaching our goal was hard. Four years
ago we lost the ticket and we didn’t want that
to happen again. I congratulate my teammates and
I am very satisfied with our feat to qualify
Cuba to the Olympic Games”.
Mailen added, “I have no words to express what I
feel, I only know that the victory comes with
great sacrifice during the past four years, we
have practiced tough and competed at every
level. I believe we deserved to be in Tokyo.
Since we arrived we had our minds set on only
winning, giving our best effort and storming
past Mexico to win for all Cuba who was waiting
for us to qualify to the Olympic Games”.
Puerto Rico finished in third place with a
strong 2-0 victory over Guatemala in the bronze
medal series. María González and Allanis Navas
PUR-1 defeated GUA-1 of Estefanie Bethancourt
and Natalia Girón 2-0 (21-15, 21-12); Lara
Torruella and Lina Bernier PUR-2 beat GUA-2 of
Paola Alvarado and Ana Sofía Arévalo 2-0 (21-8,
21-8).
Women’s Results Sunday
Puerto Rico 2, Guatemala 0
María González/Allanis Navas PUR-1 d Estefanie
Bethancourt/Natalia Girón GUA-1 (21-15, 21-12)
Lara Torruella/Lina Bernier PUR-2 d Paola
Alvarado/Ana Sofía Arévalo GUA-2 (21-8, 21-8)
Cuba 2, Mexico 0
Lidianny Echevarría/Yanisleydis Sanchez CUB-1 d Martha
Revuelta/Zaira Orellana MEX-1 (21-15, 21-15)
Leila Martinez/Mailen Deliz CUB-2 d Susana
Torres/María José Quintero MEX-2 (21-16, 21-7) |
