La Habana CUB - World champions Yipsi Moreno and Mario Kindelan (boxing) were awarded the best Cuban sports people of 2003, in a ceremony held at Havana's Hotel Nacional.

Moreno confirmed herself as the queen hammer throw as she renewed in Paris the world title she surprisingly won in Edmonton 2001.

"I am very happy to be selected the best in my country, where there are so many good athletes. It is a great reward for all the hard training and sacrifice we face almost all year round", said happy Moreno after receiving the trophy in the hands of Cuban Sports Minister Humberto Rodriguez.

The 22-year old from the central-eastern Cuban province of Camaguey also added the Pan American gold to her pedigree. With a 75.14m effort, she came close to world record (76.07), set by Romania Mihaela Melinte in 1999.

"I am aiming to win a medal in the Athens Olympic Games to improve my fourth place in Sydney. The world record is a secondary goal for me", she added.

Moreno replaced javelin throw world record holder Osleidys Menendez, who was awarded the best Cuban sportswoman in 2001 and 2002. 1999 400-meter hurdler Daimi Pernia was also decorated in 1999.

The world's no. 1 hammer thrower leads a group of 30 Cuban athletes who have already qualified for the 2004 Summer Games. She is expected to make her 2004 debut later this month.

In the men's field, amateur boxer Mario Kindelan claimed his third world title in Bangkok and went undefeated last year in the 60kg division. He also won the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

The Cuban baseball squad, winner of the Pan American, world and Olympic qualifying tournaments, was chosen the best team of the year.

Baseball pitcher Norge Luis Vera and volleyball player Zoila Barros were distinguished the best athletes in a team sport.

The top ten list includes world champions Amarilis Savon (yudo), Lorenzo Aragon and Odlanier Solis (boxing), as well as world championships medallists Yanelis Labrada (taekwondo) and Yoanka Gonzalez (track cycling).

Gymnast Erick Lopez, Ibrahim Rojas and Ledi Frank Balceiro (kayak), shooter Eglis Cruz, baseball pitcher Vicyondri Odelin and grecoroman wrestler Roberto Monzon complete the exclusive group.

Two very talented athletes, triple jumper David Giralt and long jumper Yudelkis Fernandez, were selected the best juniors.

World junior champion Giralt became the 15th Cuban ever to break the 17-meter barrier in the triple jump. He won the Pan American junior title in Barbados and finished fourth in the 2003 World Championships in Paris. He ended his junior career with a respectable 17.31-meter leap, which places him fourth in the all-time junior list.

Fernandez, 18, claimed a long and triple jump double in Barbados. She also improved the Central American and Caribbean junior record in her strongest event to 6.69 meters. In the triple, she landed at 14.03.

Triple jumper Dennis Fernandez and discus thrower Lisandra Rodriguez, both world youth champions in Sherbrooke, Canada, were included in the top ten list.