Mariafelix Sarria

Havana, July 10 (RHC) - Climbing onto the podium at the 2025 Pan American Senior Weightlifting Championships in Cali is one of the goals of Marifélix Sarría, Cuba's sole representative at the continental event.

The Antillean weightlifter will compete in the +86 kilogram division against leading athletes from the region, including four lifters who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Among them is Venezuela's representative Naryury Pérez, our main rival in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, whom Sarría defeated to win the title in the clean and jerk event.

The Pan American Weightlifting Championships will kick off next Sunday at the Miguel Calero Coliseum in the Colombian city and will run until July 18.

More than 200 participants from 23 countries are expected to compete in the various official categories. The women's competition includes divisions of 48, 53, 58, 63, 69, 77, 86, and over 86 kilograms; and the men's competition includes divisions of 60, 65, 71, 79, 88, 94, 110, and over 110 kilograms.

The competition, held in the capital of Valle del Cauca, will also host anti-doping training and coaching events, according to the organizing committee.

The competition will not be recognized as a qualifier for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.

Source: JIT