Cuba’s Luis Enrique Zayas won a silver medal with a 2.25m jump at the High Jump Meeting in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, a competition that belongs to the European indoor circuit.

Zayas, a native of the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, started his series on Tuesday with 2.21m, but three failed attempts at 2.28m prevented him from retaining his 2020 title at the same venue.

The gold and bronze medals went to South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, who cleared 2.28m, and Italy’s Manuel Lando (2.21), respectively.

Previously, the 28-year-old Santiago native finished in seventh place with 2.12m in Udine and 2.25m in Hustopeče, results of a tour in which he seeks to fine-tune details for the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing 2025.

In 2023 Zayas achieved a historic fourth place at the Budapest World Indoor Championships (2.33m) and aims to consolidate his position among the global favourites after overcoming injuries that complicated his 2024 season.

With two crowns at the Pan American Games in Lima 2019 and Santiago de Chile 2023, the Cuban is following in the footsteps of legends such as Javier Sotomayor.

His victory in Lima, with a jump of 2.30m, was hailed as an unexpected feat after entering the event as the last invitee.

The Cuban Athletics Federation confirmed his participation in the Trinec Meeting (Czech Republic) and the Grand Prix in Valencia (Spain), before defining his qualification for Nanjing.

With a personal indoor record of 2.33m achieved in 2020, Zayas is looking to recover her best version to climb the world podium.