Havana.- Cuba’s leading badminton player, Taymara Oropesa, aims this year to win the individual title at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, a distinction that has eluded her in the previous two editions.
Silver medalist in Barranquilla 2018 and San Salvador 2023, the athlete from Holguín made her debut in this multisport event in Veracruz 2014, where she won gold in mixed doubles and two bronze medals in women’s doubles and team events.
Four years later, in the Colombian city, she improved her haul with a gold in women’s doubles and three silvers in singles, mixed doubles, and team events.
In the Salvadoran capital, the Cuban also failed to reach the top of the podium in the individual event, losing in the final—as she did in Barranquilla—against Mexican Haramara Gaitán, one of the highest-ranked players on the continent and one of her toughest rivals.
However, at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Taymara earned the bronze medal, a historic result for Cuba in the discipline, as she became the first Cuban woman to stand on the podium in this competition, with special significance since it happened against her fiercest rival in the Americas.
That victory was the last match between you two. Will it be repeated in Santo Domingo? Will it prevent your long-awaited singles title at the Central American and Caribbean Games?
"I believe it is possible to win the title. The rivals so far remain the same: Haramara and the Guatemalan Nikté Sotomayor.
"I have faced both of them several times, although against Nikté I have won much more. Haramara and I are even in our head-to-head matches in the various tournaments."
Is this your main goal this year then?
"My main goal is indeed to win the individual gold. Additionally, I will fight for more medals in women's doubles, mixed doubles, and team events.
"Before the Games, the purpose is to earn several points to secure all the spots we want in both women's and men's categories, which also helps to have a better position in the draw."
Who would be your partners in doubles?
"In mixed doubles, it should be Roberto Carlos Herrera; we have improved since the El Salvador 2023 Games, and I believe it is possible to win a medal in the Dominican Republic.
"Two players have options to partner with me in women's doubles with the inclusion of Erlis Cabrera, since the choice is between her and Leyanis Contreras."
As a mother of a little over one-year-old girl, what support do you have to maintain stability in your training?
"The unconditional support of my mother (Madelaine Pupo Téllez); she does everything so I can train in Artemisa, where the national team is located, about nine kilometers from where we live.
"Also, that of Humberto Daudinot, my husband and coach, who makes the same sacrifice as I do with Samy to keep fighting for this sport. I like to wash the girl's clothes, tidy up her messes, and, when I can, prepare her meals.
"Likewise, the parents of athlete Alina Zans help, for which I am very grateful, especially when my mother isn't around; my sister Tania and my best friend Zoila also contribute timely advice as a psychologist when it comes to competing."
After your return at the Giraldilla in Havana 2025, what was your best performance that year?
"After the Giraldilla, the most significant event was the Santo Domingo Open; there I achieved a good result, especially in singles, a discipline in which it is always more difficult to earn medals, and I won bronze. I also added another bronze with Roberto Carlos in mixed doubles."
Did you reach your ideal weight that season?
"I have lost weight, but I am not yet at my ideal competition weight; I am a little short. I believe that by the Santo Domingo event, I will be fully ready and in optimal shape to conquer the title."
With less than three years to go for Los Angeles 2028, do you still hold on to your dream of reaching the Olympic Games?
"I have always been certain that I can qualify for an Olympic Games. The issue is that badminton has a complicated qualification system for Cuba because of the number of tournaments you have to participate in—at least ten a year.
Other sports only require one or two qualifying events; we have to compete and earn points—that's how the spots are awarded. The more you compete, the more points you accumulate. I am very convinced that if they give me the opportunity to compete, I can make it to Los Angeles 2028."
