BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Mexican Junior Women's National Field Hockey Team is poised to compete in the 2025 Barbados Challenge Cup, a crucial qualifier for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay. In the lead-up to their debut, the team engaged in intensive practice matches against the national teams of Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.
Following nearly two months of rigorous training at the National High-Performance Center (CNAR) in Mexico City and in Salamanca, Guanajuato, the U21 squad has arrived in Barbados with high hopes of securing their spot in the prestigious continental competition.
Under the guidance of Mexican strategist San Yusen Zuleta, the team comprises 16 talented athletes, including six players hailing from Salamanca, Guanajuato, showcasing the region's strong contribution to the national team.
Salamanca's Rising Stars
The six players from Salamanca who have earned their place on the national team are:
María Fernanda Rodríguez Santoyo
Fernanda Rebeca Jasso Arteaga
Fernanda Itzel Guzmán Herrera
Fernanda María Ernestina Mares González
Estefanía Camacho Aguilar
María José Ramírez González
Competition and Stakes
The Barbados Challenge Cup features national teams from Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Guyana, and Mexico. This qualifying tournament serves as a repechage, where the top two finishers will advance to the 2025 Junior Pan American Cup in Asunción, Paraguay, scheduled for August 10-19.
The Mexican team enters the competition with a core of twelve players who secured a commendable sixth-place finish at the 2023 Junior Pan American Games in Surrey, Canada. They are determined to build on that success and qualify for the upcoming continental event.
Preparation and Schedule
In preparation for the tournament, the team played crucial friendly matches against Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, providing valuable experience against their upcoming opponents.
The Mexican team's schedule for the Barbados Challenge Cup is as follows:
March 8: vs. Trinidad and Tobago
March 9: vs. Guyana
March 11: vs. Guatemala
March 12: vs. Puerto Rico
March 14: vs. Barbados
The entire team and coaching staff are focused on achieving their goal of qualifying for the Junior Pan American Games.
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