Colombia strike gold on Pan Am Games

Agency :
Colombia struck gold on the diamond, winning the men’s baseball final at the Pan American Games on Saturday while Brazil ruled the top of podium on the judo mat and the tennis court.

Unfancied Colombia thumped Brazil 9-1 to be crowned baseball champions for the first time, capping a wild and unpredictable tournament that saw traditional powers Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico all fall short.

With the United States and Canada, champions in 2011 and 2015, not entering teams, the battle for podium places was expected to come down to Cuba, winners of 10 straight gold from the 1971 Games, holders Puerto Rico and Mexico.

But in the end it was two teams that had never before even reached the final playing for gold, while Mexico beat Panama 10-2 for the bronze.