Havana.— The Ramiro Chirino Combat Gym, located in the east of Havana, hosted this past weekend a selection trial for the national Karate team in preparation for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.
The atmosphere was marked by joy, discipline, and passion, reflecting the athletes’ commitment to their goals.
Ramón Rodríguez, national commissioner, emphasized that despite necessary adjustments and restructuring, the team’s focus remains steadfast.
“In this group, there is no room for giving up; Cuban karate remains strong today and always,” he stated.
“Our athletes have responsibly taken on their training loads and continue to refine their technique, both to face opponents with determination in kumite and to demonstrate excellence in kata,” he explained.
In the past two years, Cuban karatekas participated in the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, where Baurelis Torres, the team captain, won silver in the 55 kg category. They also shone at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, earning gold and bronze medals that confirmed their competitive level.
Cuba had several athletes qualified for the 2025 Karate World Championships in Cairo, including Ernesto Rafael Cobas (–75 kg), but did not attend due to logistical support reasons.
Historically, the best results for Cuban karatekas have been Torres’s silver medal in Santiago 2023, combined with bronze in Lima 2019 and the Central American and Caribbean gold in San Salvador.
Cuban karate, with all its tradition, is preparing for the oldest regional sporting event in the world, aiming to keep the country on the competitive map of the area.
