Latin American Athletes Win Gold in Mexican Open Taekwondo

Latin America is stealing the show at this year's Mexican Open Taekwondo competitions: with just one day left to go, contestants are bringing their A-Game to Monterrey, Mexico.

RELATED:
Former MLB Pitcher Arrested for Intent to Sell Cocaine in US

Athletes from Cuba, Guatemala and Mexico have set the pace, winning several gold medals as well as silver and bronze.

Among Mexico's stars are Anel Felix, Rene Lizarraga and Carlos Sansores who, despite a nasty blow from Cuba's Rosbelis Despaigne, managed to secure gold. The nation's representatives also managed to snag two silver and one bronze.

Additional medals were won by Cuban athletes Glenhis Hernandez and world champion Rafael Alba Castillo, as well as Dominican contestants Moises Hernandez and Katherine Rodriguez.

Athletes from 25 countries competed in the two-day international event, due to come to a close on Sunday. U.S. Olympian Paige McPherson managed to take gold in a number of events in the -67kg category.

Organizers structured the competitions to resemble other international events such as the South American Games, the Pan American Specialty, and the Central American and Caribbean Games.

"We have made an important effort so that the tournament meets all the international requirements and standards. We have seen great combats this first day that helps us to evaluate our competitors," said Raymundo González Pinedo, president of the Mexican Federation of Taekwondo.

The delegation installed cameras, closed circuit television, a stage for winners, and technical staff to turn around the data and competition results, Pinedo said.