Orlando Vásquez delivered men’s 56 kilogram weightlifting gold for the host nation, after producing a series of fine lifts.

He achieved a snatch total of 108kg to lead the standings, before securing the gold with a clean and jerk effort of 127kg.

It saw him finish the event with a winning total of 235kg, followed by El Salvador’s Jonatan Henríquez, who managed 224kg.

Guatemala’s Darío Cruz rounded off the podium positions on a total of 224kg, but settled for bronze due to having a higher bodyweight than Henríquez.

El Salvador’s Julio Salamanca won the men’s 62kg competition, after he managed to lift a combined total of 272kg.

He was followed by Edgar Pineda of Guatemala and Nicaragua’s Eliberto Thomas, who achieved totals of 269kg and 243kg respectively.

Genesis Murcia earned El Salvador’s second title by lifting 171kg in the women’s 48kg competition, with Javiana Pavón of Nicaragua second on 148kg.

The podium was completed by Flor Palacios of El Salvador, who totalled 143kg.

There was further success for El Salvador in wrestling competition, as Fátima Gonzales triumphed in the women’s 48kg event.

She overcame Honduras’ Leisy Mena in the gold medal match, while Panama’s Mirellys Eysseric won bronze.

Honduras’ Brenda Bailey beat home favourite Ceymar Castillo in the 53kg final, before her team-mate Saidy Chavez overcame Nicaragua’s Hetzel Dayana Alguera in the 69kg event.

Arleth Jarquín was able to achieve success for the host nation in the women’s 75kg division, as she overcame Josselyn Portillo of El Salvador in the final.

Panama’s Estefany Aguilera won the 58kg event, having seen off the challenge of Dayana Rodríguez of Nicaragua.

Competition will continue tomorrow at the event, which is open to the seven countries of Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

Around 3,500 athletes are participating at the Games, which will run until December 17.