The president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Dr. José Joaquín Puello and the Deputy Minister of Sports Jay Payano were at the Las Americas International Airport yesterday to receive a group of 19 Cuban coaches. The coaches are coming to help complete the training of Dominican athletes that will be participating in the Central American and Caribbean Games to be held this summer in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Hoy newspaper reported that the sports executives feel the DR could win 80 medals in those games, in 17 of the 25 sports in which Dominican athletes will compete. The first coaches will help train Dominicans in track and field, cycling, gymnastics, shooting and skeet, tennis, soccer, water polo and diving. It is the first time the Ministry of Sports hires such a large group of foreign trainers. The COD says the DR has a good chance at winning medals in track and field, basketball, baseball, bowling, boxing, judo, karate, weight lifting, wrestling, softball, tae kwon do, tennis, table tennis, precision shooting, skeet, volleyball, beach volleyball, and racquetball. Dominican athletes will also participate in sailing, triathlon, cycling, equestrian events, gymnastics, swimming and soccer.
