Brazil dominates Para Pan American Games Badminton

Danielle Souza (BRA) in action on the way to winning the SH-1 title (BWF)

SANTIAGO, Chile — Much like the rest of the Para Pan American Games Brazil proved to be the most successful team in badminton in Santiago. Brazilian players won nine gold medals in a dominant performance.

Two gold medals came from the pair of Marcelo Conceicao and Rogerio Olivera both winning their singles and doubles titles. Conceicao won the WH1 men’s singles and WH1-2 men’s doubles and Olivera won the SL4 men’s singles and SL3-SU5 mixed doubles. The WH1-2 men’s doubles was guaranteed to be a Brazilian gold as Conceicao and partner Julio Cesar Godoy defeated fellow Brazilians Edmar Francisco Barbosa and Radolfo Renato Cano.

Yuki Rodrigues was the only other male winner, claiming the men’s SU5 men’s singles. Brazil swept the WH1 singles crowns with Daniele Souza claiming the women’s, the same holding true in the SL4 with Ana Carolina Reis completing the sweep. The other gold medals came from women’s singles through Abinaecia Silva (SL3) and Mikaela Almeida (SU5).

Two non-Brazilians claimed double gold with Peru’s world champion Pilar Jauregui claiming the WH2 women’s singles and WH1-2 women’s doubles with Jaquelin Burgos Javier. The other double champion was from the USA with Miles Krajewski claiming the SH6 men’s singles and the SH6 mixed doubles with Jayci Simon.

Chile also managed one gold through Jaime Aranguiz who defeated Godoy in the WH2 men’s singles final, denying Brazil another gold medal.

While there was no automatic qualification spot on the line for winning the Para Pan American Games, there were vital “Race to Paris” rankings points that will give the winners a significant boost.

Paralympic Champions add to their resumes at Para Pan American Games

SANTIAGO, Chile — The big names in the athletics at the 2023 Para Pan American Games showed that they are still at the top of the game with gold going the way of the superstars on the first day of competition on the track and in the field.

Omar Durand (guide: Yuniol Kindalen) cruised to gold in the women’s 200m T12 for the third straight time. It wasn’t just winning that was expected it was the margin as the Cuban finished two seconds clear of silver medalist Alejandra Perez (VEN) with a time of 23.63.

That wasn’t her best time of the event, breaking the meet record with a 23.59 in the qualifying round. If she can shave half a second in the next year she could break her own world record in Paris.

One world record did fall, with Elizabeth Rodrigues (BRA) breaking her own women’s discus F53 record. At 58 years old Rodrigues just keeps getting better, breaking the world record she set in Tokyo with a throw of 17.80m, winning the gold and sending a message to the rest of the world.

“I am extremely happy with this world record. It means that the work that we are doing is great. I am already preparing for Paris 2024, but this result in the Parapan American Games makes me feel like if I were in my first competition”, said Rodrigues after the event.

Brazil’s favorites continued winning in the men’s 5000m T11 with Yeltsin Jacques Ortega (guide: Edelson De Avila) running 15:13.10. That saw him demolish the meet record by 26 seconds, showing continued improvement after winning gold in Tokyo.

There was a Brazilian battle in the women’s 200m T11 in a thrilling race. Jerusa Gerber edged out Thalita Simplico, reversing their finishing order from the Paralympic Games where they were second and third. Gerber went on to tell the world that the 100m is the one she really expects to do well as it is her preferred event.

Another meet record fell in the women’s shot put F20 through Poleth Isamar Mendes (ECU) as she extended the record with a throw of 13.91 for her second straight gold in the event.

The biggest upset of the day came in the men’s 400m T38 as American Ryan Medrano beat Mexico’s Paralympic Champion, Jose Rodolfo Chessani.

Brazil is well out in front in the Para Pan American Games medal tally with 67 gold, 45 silver and 43 bronze. The USA is second but well off the pace with 20 gold.

All photos: Marcelo Hernández / Santiago 2023 via Photosport

Chilean Table Tennis Player Matias Pino Loses Medals for Doping Violation

 

Matias Pino in action (Photo: Thomas Lovelock/OIS-IOC)

 

BONN, Switzerland – Matias Pino has been stripped of his 2019 Parapan American Games medals by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) following an anti-doping rule violation, the IPC announced on Tuesday.

Teams Prepare for Youth Parapan American Games

With the Youth Parapan American Games getting underway in Sao Paulo later this month the teams have started arriving with Colombia, Venezuela, Peu and Ecuador arriving and holding ceremonies in their countries before their respective departures.

Colombia were the first team that held their celebration as they have a delegation of over 100 athletes heading to Sao Paulo. They were farewelled by the sub director of Coldeportes (Colombian Administrative Department of Sport, Recreation, Physical Activity and the Use of Free Time), Afranio Restrepo.

The Peruvians gathered at the Lima 2019 Pan American Organizing Committee Offices, fittingly tying in the next edition of the Parapan American Games. They were met by the President of the organizing committee, Carlos Neuhaus who wished the team well.

Ecuador was greeted by Pamela Morcillo, the Ecuadorian Minister of Sports who presented the flag for Daniel Carcelen to carry at the opening ceremony. That was the same thing that happened in El Salvador who were greeted by their president, Salvador Sanchez.

Venezuela were also farewelled by their president, Nicolas Maduro with a team of more than 100 athletes being encouraged by him. “Raise the national flag as high as possible, with all the pride and love you can give. You Para athletes are heroes.” He urged the youngsters.

These youth parapan games will be the biggest ever with over 800 athletes from 20 countries competing in the event in Sao Paulo. Every single statistic in the event is a record with the most athletes, the most countries and the most sports for the event ever being staged.