In the fight, Rodriguez lost in the quarterfinals and Caraballo succumbed in his debut (+Photos)

Rodríguez (right) was the most outstanding Venezuelan of the day of struggle / Photo: Press Ministry of Youth and Sports

Wrestlers Raiber Rodríguez and Soleymi Caraballo were unable to win medals for the Venezuelan delegation, as both succumbed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, whose second and final week began this Monday.

The gladiators performed at the Grand Palais Éphémère. There, Rodríguez emerged as the native with the best performance in the day of combat sport, after reaching the quarter-finals of the men’s Greco-Roman style.

Rodriguez (right) defeated Azerbaijan’s Mammadov (left) in his first fight of the 60 kg version

The Russian athlete, who competed in the 60 kg category, defeated Azerbaijan’s Murad Mammadov in the first round. He won 6-5 in a match that was very evenly matched.

Painful defeat

Rodriguez, who some Latin American sports writers considered to have enough potential to win an Olympic medal in the City of Light, saw his goal of winning a medal cut short – for now – after falling in the round of the eight best in a French arena that is also known as the Champ-de-Mars Arena.

The fights took place at the Grand Palais Éphémère, also known as the Champ-de-Mars Arena.

In the penultimate round, Rodriguez, a 33-year-old gentleman, stumbled with a score of 5-3 against the Chinese Liguo Cao in another close fight.

It is worth noting that of the two exponents from the Cuna de Simón Bolívar who performed on August 5, 2024, only Rodríguez would have a chance to participate in a playoff, as long as Cao does not lose their semifinal confrontation.

If Cao advanced to the Grand Final, Rodriguez would compete in the play-off for a ticket to the match for a bronze medal. She would also secure an Olympic diploma. All that would be decided later.

Debut amargo

In the women’s freestyle event, Caraballo had a bitter debut at the world championships held in Paris, as she was eliminated after failing to find a way to avoid the effectiveness of her first-round opponent.

Venezuelan Caraballo faced Japanese Nonoka Ozaki and lost with a resounding score of 10-0 in a fight in the 68 kg version.

Caraballo fell to the Japanese Ozaki in a duel of the 68 kg version

The competition, which is part of the calendar of the major event endorsed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will continue on Tuesday.

Valencia / Joseph Ñambre