Tokío.- It is always a challenge and at the same time a tremendous joy to be the first medalist of a delegation in the Olympic Games. Now it will not be different, because within 69 names, being the protagonist of the first podium, in any place, involves nerves, tension, commitment and a lot of quality. And this time the odds point to taekwondo with the double champion of the world, Rafael Alba.
After the inauguration of July 23, several sports will have action for Cuba on the following dates: shooting, weights, cycling, judo and table tennis, but attending to rivals, sports form and real possibilities, the Alba (+ 80 kg) from Santiago will He rises as the strongest candidate to break the ice on July 27, even with a bream that some predict.
World title holder in 2013 and 2019, the Olympic thorn of Rio de Janeiro 2016 still remains on his shoulders, as he fell in his third presentation by one point against the Uzbek Dmitriy Shokin and returned without medals, something unthinkable for many. “That has already happened and I have learned from that experience. I am focused on a medal, I want to be an Olympic champion ”, assured Alba minutes before boarding the plane that brought him to this city.
Notwithstanding this prediction, we must say that the day after the starting gun, it will be the shooters Eglys Cruz and Jorge Grau, as well as the weightlifter Ludia Montero, submonarch of the planet, who will open the proceedings of our entourage. Finishing in the top eight would be a great result for all three, the other would be a major surprise.
For the 25th, the cyclist Arlenis Sierra on the road must improve the 28th place of the last edition on Brazilian soil, while Laina Pérez will make her debut in the Olympic Games in an air pistol with the purpose of reaching as far as her aim can be.
On Monday 26, Magdiel Estrada (73 kg) will be the first Antillean judoka to go out on the mat at the Budokan Nippon with the aim of advancing his projections as far as possible; meanwhile, Daniela Fonseca-Jorge Moisés Campos will attempt the tough mission of sneaking into at least the eight best mixed duos in table tennis at these Olympic Games.
If we go to history, Cuba has only managed three times in the history of these appointments of the five rings to score in the medal box on the first day of activities: in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, but never with champions; while on the second day we did enjoy monarchs in Moscow 1980, with the weightlifter Daniel Núñez and in Sydney 2000, with the judoka Legna Verdecia.
The best days in terms of possible medalists and champions in these Games should be reserved for August, specifically day two, in which we will have options in fighting, athletics and shooting, with our champions Mijaín López and Leuris Pupo, as well as the universal holder from the album, Yaimé Pérez and the world champion indoor long jump, Juan Miguel Echevarría. Will August 2 be another cabal for our Olympic delegations? We will talk about that soon.
