The Weightlifting Qualifier for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games Begins in the Dominican Republic

Havana, December 8 (RHC) – Athletes from 23 countries will compete starting today in the Dominican Republic in the weightlifting qualifying tournament for the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC Games) Santo Domingo 2026.

The Central American and Caribbean Weightlifting Championships, which will be held until Saturday the 13th at the José Joaquín Puello Pavilion in Parque del Este, will award 160 spots across the various weight divisions.

The opening ceremony will take place this afternoon with the presence of the Organizing Committee, headed by José Antolín Polanco Rosa, directors of the Dominican Weightlifting Federation led by Willian Ozuna, and authorities from the Ministry of Sports.

Also invited are members of the Dominican Olympic Committee, the president of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, José P. Monegro, and the president of Centro Caribe Sports, Luis Mejía, to whom this edition of the championship is dedicated.

Maritza Ortiz, the Dominican technical director of the tournament, reported that 80 spots will be up for grabs for both men and women.

Ortiz specified that this event will qualify 10 athletes per gender in each of the eight categories and is the only one that will award tickets to the Central American and Caribbean Games, thus ensuring the presence of the region’s best athletes, including Olympic and world champions and medalists.

She detailed that the women will compete in the 48, 53, 58, 63, 69, 77, 86, and +86 kg weight divisions, while the men will compete in the 60, 65, 71, 79, 88, 94, 110, and +110 kg divisions.

The Dominican Republic’s women’s team includes Dahiana Ortiz (48 kg), Alicia Féliz Vásquez (58 kg), Natalia Novas (63 kg), Fransheska Matías (69 kg), Daiana Serrano (77 kg), Yudelina Mejía (86 kg), as well as Verónica Saladín and Crismery Santana in the +86 kg division.

The men’s team consists of Luis García (60 kg), Manuel Reyes (65 kg), Francisco Tontón (71 kg), Julio Cedeño (79 kg), Ray Reyes (88 kg), Yendri Benítez (94 kg), and Ezequiel Germán (+110 kg).

Athlete Daury Jeffers Vargas will also compete in the 94 kg category.

A Cuban weightlifting delegation has been in the country since this weekend to participate in the qualifying tournament, led by Marifelix Sarría, a triple silver medalist at the World Championships in Norway.