CubaPLUS Magazine

The first vice president of the National Sports Institute, Raúl Fornés, confirmed this Thursday the purpose of the Cuban delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to achieve at least 10 medals.

In statements given to Prensa Latina, Fornés specified that the representation of the largest of the Antilles intends to equal the four gold medals of the previous Tokyo 2020 event and surpass the six in total won in the Japanese competition to reach at least 10.

The director recalled that with respect to the Japanese event, the Antillean nation grew by five athletes and described the purpose of winning a dozen medals, given the complex circumstances to prepare athletes in the Paralympic cycle caused by the pandemic and the complex economic situation of the country.
wAccording to the head of the Cuban delegation in the Paris competition, the sport with the most options for Cuba is para-athletics, historically the discipline that brings the most medals to the island, although there are possibilities in para-taekwondo to win some medals.

Also with the para-weightlifter Pablo Ramírez with good results in the last competitions, the shooting sport with its three representatives and the para-judoka Sheila Hernández, second in world ranking of the 70 kilograms, category J2.

According to Fornés, the Paralympic sport in the Caribbean nation is in good health, although there is still much work to be done. Unquestionably, the base that we have had in the last Paralympic cycle has been significant, as demonstrated by the growth of participation in international events and if the pre-competition purposes are met, we will improve the results with respect to the last Paralympics, he affirmed.

We have a new projection, a recently approved strategy discussed with international organizations to prepare coaches and classifiers in Cuba and to expand the number of Paralympic sports practiced on the island, he added.

For the director, Cuban Paralympic sports will have exponential and significant growth to be in better conditions for the next cycle of Los Angeles 2028. Finally, he valued it as a great honor to accompany and share with the athletes in the French Paralympics because they are true heroes in overcoming the challenges of their preparation and disabilities and giving themselves completely to their country, people and sport. (Taken from Prensa Latina)