Cuba dawned Thursday with 45 gold, 24 silver and 28 bronze medals in second place at the ALBA Games, behind host Venezuela.

Havana, April 27 (RHC) - Cuba dawned Thursday with 45 gold, 24 silver and 28 bronze medals in second place at the ALBA Games, behind host Venezuela.

The Cuban athletic embassy won three titles on Wednesday at the start of athletics.

Yasmani Fernandez and Yaritza Martinez were crowned in hammer throw, while Alejandro Parada reigned in long jump.

Yasmani took the hammer to 69.41 meters, while Yaritza won with 64.88 meters.

Parada, meanwhile, a young 18-year old value in the long jump, stretched to 7.87 meters, in a tough battle with Venezuela's Leondel Manuel Torrealba, who finished with 7.72.

In boxing, Cuba won two gold medals, two silver medals and nine bronze medals.

The gold medals were won by Damian Arce (51 kg) and Yoel Duvergel (+92 kg), in an evening in which Jorge Soto (80 kg) and Freddy Perez (92 kg) lost by titles.

Previously, the Island had secured 9 bronze medals, among them those won by Reynabell Grant (50 kg), Juliannet Díaz (54 kg), Legnis Cala (57 kg), Lianet Gómez (60 kg), Arianne Imbert (66 kg) and Yakelín Stornell (75 kg), the first of Cuban women's boxing in international competitions.

In spite of the difficulties with the refereeing days before, the final evening went smoothly in the presence of Melvin Maldonado, Venezuelan Minister of Youth and Sports; Alejandro Terán, governor of La Guaira state; and Osvaldo Vento, head of Inder.

Venezuela dominated boxing with seven gold medals, followed by Russia (5) and Cuba (2).

In another combat sport, fencing, the Cuban women's sabre SELECTION won the golden metal.

Orquídea Ferrer, Leydis Mustelier, Mariana Portuondo and Jessica Leyva teamed up to beat Venezuela's Patricia Contreras, Arianna Prieto, Creila Ramos and Fabiangela Ruido 45-33.

The men's foil did not have equal fortune and had to settle for the silver medal. "We did the impossible to beat the Venezuelans, but they are prepared," said veteran Camilo Boris, who was accompanied by Darién Carrión, Carol Rivero and Lekian Valdés.

Venezuela dominates the fencing medal standings with five titles, an equal number of silver medals and nine bronze medals, escorted by Cuba with 3-3-5. The fencing team competition will conclude this Thursday with duels between the girls foil and boys epee.

In softball, the Cuban women's softball team won the gold medal by beating the top Venezuelan team in the final by knockout.

Cuban pitcher Ana Amalia Gonzalez went the distance to deserve the victory.