Yainelis Sanz is a double Junior Pan American champion!

Cuban wrestler Yainelis Sanz successfully defended her U23 continental title in the 57 kg freestyle wrestling division by defeating Mexican opponent Bertha Rojas four to two during the women's wrestling session at the 2025 Asunción Pan American Games.

Sanz, the absolute champion of the category in 2025, defeated the Mexican athlete for the third time this year, today coming from behind with a takedown to overturn an unfavorable score with just over a minute remaining in the match held on Mat A of the CEO Stadium.

With the second title for Cuban women's wrestling on the day, following the success of Greili Bencosme in the 60 kg division, Sanz became the first representative from the largest of the Antilles to win two titles at Junior Pan American Games.

The 23 year old, a native of Granma province, reached the final without conceding a single point, first defeating Argentina's Camila Amarilla (7-0) and then overcoming Guatemala's Alisson Valdéz by superiority in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, María Fernanda Santana (62 kg), silver medalist at the 2023 Santiago de Chile Pan American Games, earned another silver medal after losing by superiority to Venezuela's Astrid Montero.

The other Antillean wrestler trained by the duo of Iván Fundora and Alexis Estrabao, Dailianis Canales (68 kg), won the bronze medal against Brazil's Thais Tertuliano with a score of 10 to 8. The result was confirmed following an extended video review of two offensive actions, one from Cuba and another from the representative of the South American Giant.

The Antillean women's team concludes a highly competitive tournament with one silver, one bronze, and a pair of titles, one fewer than at the Cali Valle Games where the athletes secured three gold medals.