On Monday, water polo kicked off the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, four days before the opening ceremony.
RELATED:
DR To Host the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2026
The matches between the Venezuelan and Mexican women’s teams took place in the pool at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the main venue for the competition. The Mexican team emerged victorious with a 24-5 score. The Mexicans dominated the court, winning all four quarters with scores of (0-5), (1-6), (3-5), and (1-8).
After the match, Yineldy Araujo, a player for the Venezuelan team, told news agencies that the game was tough because they are the reigning champions, but “we are restructuring the team and were able to move on from the first match.”
The athlete expressed confidence in improving her performance during the competition, despite the complex circumstances her nation faces following the earthquakes that struck nearly a month ago, a tragedy that has claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people and left 17,000 homeless.
“We came here with a lot of potential, and we know that even though we had little training and preparation, we can continue to improve during the championship,” Araujo stated, highlighting the strength of her delegation.
She also acknowledged that the catastrophe directly impacted their training cycle: “The logistical, infrastructural, and even emotional aspects have affected us considerably, but we’re moving forward because we are warriors. Despite everything, this is what we love, and we forget everything else and give it our all.”
Ambiente en el Centro Acuático, donde este lunes el polo acuático se convierte en la primera disciplina en entrar en competencia en los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe Santo Domingo 2026.
La inauguración oficial de la justa deportiva será el próximo jueves 24 de julio.… pic.twitter.com/oKNn60KMfT
— RCNoticias (@rcavada) July 20, 2026
The text reads, “Atmosphere at the Aquatic Center, where this Monday water polo becomes the first discipline to enter competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. The official inauguration of the sporting event will be next Thursday, July 24.”
With a strong message of national solidarity, the athlete added: “We are here fighting for you, we are giving our best here for ourselves. Venezuela is one.” A total of 15 matches will be played in the preliminary round of women’s water polo until Friday, with the participation of Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. The top four will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, while the gold medal final will be held on Sunday.
The organizers moved up the start of the aquatic competitions due to the large number of events. Badminton will be the second sport to begin, this Thursday.
The 25th Central American and Caribbean Games will conclude on August 8 in the Dominican Republic, bringing together more than 5,000 athletes from 37 countries competing in 40 sports, most of them in the Dominican capital.
#Cuba | Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced a U.S. media campaign aimed at justifying a military adventure against the island, calling it psychological warfare. He said the leaks about invasion plans are meant to gauge U.S. public opinion on a military action that would… pic.twitter.com/iuBKOT6t1l
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 17, 2026
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.