The Cuban women's field hockey team clinched the championship title at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026. On Monday, they triumphed over Mexico 2-0 in a penalty shootout following a goalless regulation time.
The standout performer of the final was goalkeeper Yurismailis García, who blocked all four shots from the Mexican side during the shootout. The efforts from Grecia Mendoza, Mayra Lacheño, Arlette Estrada, and Valeria Espinoza were thwarted by her stellar defense.
In contrast, Cuba showed no mercy. Yuraima Vera put them on the scoreboard first in the shootout, and captain Sunaylis Nikle sealed the victory with the decisive second goal.
This win capped off an almost flawless campaign for Cuba, who scored a total of 29 goals throughout the tournament while conceding only one, underscoring their dominance in both offense and defense.
A Dominant Performance
During the group stage, Cuba demolished their opponents with decisive victories: a 7-0 win over Jamaica, 7-1 against Barbados, and a 9-0 triumph over Bermuda. They secured their place in the final with a 6-0 victory over Venezuela in the semifinals.
On an individual level, Yuraima Vera emerged as the team's top scorer with eight goals, closely followed by Chiela Darias, who netted seven.
A Special Victory with a Taste of Revenge
The game took place in a packed hockey stadium at Parque del Este, where athletes from Barbados, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and other delegations joined in the festive atmosphere. Cheers of "Cuba, Cuba!" and "Mexico, Mexico!" resonated throughout a match that remained tense until the final penalty.
This gold medal holds a special sense of revenge for Cuba. In the 2023 Central American Games in San Salvador, they reached the final against the same opponent, ended 1-1 in regulation, and lost the gold to Mexico in a 5-3 penalty shootout, settling for silver. In Santo Domingo 2026, the roles were reversed entirely.
Captain Sunaylis Nikle, who had scored Cuba's goal in that previous final in San Salvador before Mexico equalized, completed a symbolic cycle by converting the decisive penalty for the title this Monday.
Podium and Participation
In the bronze medal match, Venezuela defeated Barbados 4-1 to secure a podium finish. Venezuela's first three goals were scored in under six minutes by María Artigas, Mery Rodríguez, and Johandri Sánchez.
Cuba is competing in Santo Domingo 2026 with 504 athletes across 42 disciplines, aiming to finish among the top three in the overall medal count. As of last week, they held that position, trailing only Mexico and Colombia.
The men's field hockey tournament is set to conclude on Tuesday, with its own medals up for grabs.
Key Moments in Cuba's Field Hockey Triumph
Who was the standout player in the final match?
Goalkeeper Yurismailis García was the standout player, blocking all four penalty attempts from the Mexican team.
How did Cuba perform throughout the tournament?
Cuba had a dominant performance, scoring 29 goals and conceding only one throughout the tournament.
What was the result of the bronze medal match?
Venezuela defeated Barbados 4-1 to claim the bronze medal.