Related videos:
The players Naomis Mustelier, Islenia Parra, and Nahomi Rodríguez recently left the Cuban women's handball team after participating in the 2025 Norceca Championship, held at the facilities of the Olympic Committee in the Aztec country.
According to sources confirmed to the independent media 14ymedio, the defection occurred on Thursday, April 10, after the morning training session. The three athletes got into a vehicle and drove away from the sports village where the Cuban delegation was staying.
Cuba champions… but with absences
Despite the neglect, Cuba declared itself the undefeated champion of the tournament, defeating regional powerhouses such as Mexico and the United States, and secured its qualification for the Women's World Championship after six years of absence from that stage.
However, the team played three of the five matches with only 12 players, after Mustelier, Parra, and Rodríguez left following the second match against Canada.
Who are the athletes that escaped?
Naomis Mustelier, a 24-year-old lateral player, is the most experienced among the runaway players. She was part of the team in the 2019 World Cup in Japan and at the Central American Games in San Salvador 2023, where Cuba won the gold medal. She also participated in the Pan American Games in Santiago 2023, as reported by the aforementioned outlet.
Nahomi Rodríguez and Islenia Parra, both 25 years old, play as wingers. They participated in the Junior Pan American Games Cali-Valle 2021 and the Caribbean Cup 2022, which granted a ticket to the Central American Games.
A title that does not conceal the crisis
The Norceca title won by Cuba — the third in history for the women's team — reaffirms its regional leadership. However, the victory does not conceal the internal tensions and the precarious conditions faced by athletes within the Cuban sports system.
Although some players have secured contracts in foreign leagues without formally breaking ties with INDER, the lack of resources, a weak national championship, and limited international visibility continue to drive many to take the risk of leaving.
In addition to training in poor conditions, the lack of real professional projection and state control over the athletes' careers limit their opportunities, making defections at competitions outside the island increasingly common.
So far, neither INDER nor the Cuban Handball Federation has issued an official statement regarding the departure of Mustelier, Parra, and Rodríguez, in what seems to be yet another attempt by the regime to downplay or silence the defection of athletes, a phenomenon that has become increasingly common at international events.
The story is not new
In December 2023, five players from the youth handball team abandoned the delegation in Mexico. The athletes Nadira Mesa, Daniella Chávez, Sol Perelló, Reina Ramos, and Naila Borrero left the training camp that was located in the land of the Aztecs, where the Pre-World Championship is being held.
In May 2024, Omar Toledano, regarded as the best handball player on the team, left behind the group in Mexico that participated in the Pre-World Championship of the discipline.
In November of that year, three more handball players were involved in yet another chapter of the unstoppable exodus after leaving a training camp in France.
Daril Lois González (Havana, 22 years), Diosel Rondón (Granma, 21), and Jorge Félix Pren (Matanzas, 23) also decided to turn their athletic careers and their lives around in the midst of the (huge) shortages existing on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Defection of Cuban Athletes
Why did the Cuban handball players Naomis Mustelier, Islenia Parra, and Nahomi Rodríguez leave the national team?
The players Naomis Mustelier, Islenia Parra, and Nahomi Rodríguez have left the Cuban handball team due to poor conditions and a lack of opportunities within the Cuban sports system. Resource limitations, a weak national championship, and state control over their careers have driven many athletes to seek better opportunities outside the island.
How did the desertion impact the Cuban handball team during the 2025 Norceca Championship?
Despite the departure of three players, Cuba was crowned the undefeated champion of the Norceca 2025 tournament, defeating powerhouses like Mexico and the United States. However, the team played three out of five matches with only 12 players, reflecting the resilience of the group, although it also highlights the internal tensions and the impact of the departures on the collective performance.
What does the defection of Cuban athletes reveal about the sports system in Cuba?
The desertion of Cuban athletes highlights the serious deficiencies and limitations of the Cuban sports system. The lack of resources, real professional opportunities, and state control over athletes' careers have led to a constant exodus of talent seeking stability and development abroad.
How has the Cuban government responded to the defection of its athletes?
Until now, neither INDER nor the Cuban Handball Federation has issued an official statement regarding the recent defections. This seems to be an attempt by the regime to minimize or silence the exodus of athletes, a phenomenon that has become recurring in the international events in which Cuba participates.
Filed under: