Cuba Dominates Central American & Caribbean Judo Championship 2024 | Medal Count

The Cuban national judo team continued to demonstrate regional dominance in late March 2026, securing five gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Senior Cup held in Guatemala. The competition, concluded on March 29, 2026, served as the final qualifying tournament for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games scheduled for Santo Domingo 2026. According to reporting from the CiberCuba Editorial Team, the Cuban delegation finished the event with a total of 13 medals, reinforcing their status as a powerhouse in the region leading into the multi-sport event.

Fifteen Cuban athletes participated in the Guatemala tournament, comprising eight men and seven women. Under the guidance of coaches Julio Alderete, Boennys Chang, and Antonio Becali, the team secured five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals. The official site Cubadebate confirmed the results, highlighting specific victories across various weight divisions. The performance in Guatemala followed a strong showing in Panama earlier in the qualifying circuit, where Cuban judokas also topped the medal table.

Guatemala Tournament Results

The five Cuban champions in Guatemala claimed victory in their respective weight classes. The gold medalists included Orlando Polanco in the 66 kg division and Andy Granda in the +100 kg category. On the women’s side, Dali Semanat won the 52 kg title, while Maylin del Toro took gold in the 63 kg division. Dayanara Curbelo completed the set of Cuban champions by winning the +78 kg division.

Four Cuban athletes finished as runners-up, earning silver medals. Iván Felipe Silva competed in the 100 kg division, while Yainet Coronado fought in the 48 kg category. Lianet Cardona secured silver in the 78 kg division, and Naysdel Cardoso took second place in the 90 kg weight class. The bronze medals were awarded to Jonathan Charón in the 60 kg division, Marlon Herrera in the 73 kg division, Rubén Romero in the 81 kg division, and Anisleidys Ur López in the 70 kg division.

Competition organizers reported that 14 countries participated across the 14 men’s and women’s divisions. Mexico sent the most represented delegation with 17 representatives. Despite Cuba’s five gold medals, Colombia led the overall medal count for the Guatemala event with six golds, five silvers, and three bronzes. Cuba finished second in the gold medal tally for this specific tournament.

Performance in Panama

Prior to the Guatemala event, the Cuban team competed in the Central American Judo Cup in Panama. According to Radio Rebelde, Cuba dominated that tournament by winning medals in 11 of the 14 divisions. In the Panamanian Cup, held weeks earlier, the Cubans secured six golds, four silvers, and one bronze. This performance allowed them to lead the medal table of that specific event, finishing ahead of Mexico, which recorded three golds, one silver, and six bronzes. Colombia took third place in the overall standings in Panama with two gold, four silver, and five bronze medals.

Specific victories in Panama included stars Jonathan Charón in the 60 kg division, Orlando Polanco in the 66 kg division, and Andy Granda in the +100 kg division. Marlon Herrera also triumphed in the 73 kg category, defeating the top-ranked competitor in the region, Mexican Ulises Méndez. On the women’s side, Dali Sentmanat won the 52 kg title after convincingly defeating all rivals. Anisleydis Ur exceeded expectations by taking the gold medal in the 70 kg division without receiving any points against her.

Other notable results from the Panama cup included Colombian Francisco Balanta surprising Iván Silva in the 100 kg division via a golden rule penalty for the gold medal. Naysdel Cardoso won silver in the 90 kg division after falling to Mexican Diego Díaz in the final. Maylín del Toro settled for second place in the 63 kg division after facing Mexican Prisca Awiti, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist, in the final. Lianet Cardona finished as runner-up in the 78 kg division against Colombian Brenda Olaya.

Qualification Context

The regional circuit consisted of six qualifying tournaments leading up to the Santo Domingo 2026 Games. Cuba attended only two out of the six qualifying tournaments: those in Panama and Guatemala. Despite participating in only a portion of the circuit, the team accumulated significant points and medals. According to the updated ranking for Santo Domingo following the results from Panama, Andy Granda, Yainet Coronado, and Anisleidys Ur López were in fifth place in their respective divisions.

These rankings made them the best-positioned members of the Cuban team at that stage of the qualification process. The consistent medal finishes across both the Panamanian and Guatemalan cups suggest a strong trajectory for the national team as they approach the Central American and Caribbean Games. The results confirm that Cuban judokas remain competitive against regional rivals such as Mexico and Colombia, who also posted strong numbers in the overall standings.

The final medal tally from Guatemala adds to the momentum generated in Panama. With five titles in Guatemala and six in Panama, the Cuban judo federation has established a solid foundation of medalists for the upcoming multi-sport event. The coaching staff, including Julio Alderete, Boennys Chang, and Antonio Becali, will likely use these results to finalize roster decisions for Santo Domingo. The performance across weight classes indicates depth in both men’s and women’s divisions.

As the qualification period concludes, the focus shifts to the main event in Santo Domingo. The athletes who secured medals in Guatemala and Panama have demonstrated their capability to perform under pressure in regional competition. The data from the Central American and Caribbean Senior Cup provides a clear indicator of form heading into the Games. Cuba’s ability to win gold in multiple weight categories underscores their continued investment and success in the sport of judo within the region.