Near the Podiums – Pan Am Games 2019

An exciting competition day allowed us to know who are close to getting the yearned medals of the XVIII Pan Am Games 2019, held in Lima, Peru.

Tomorrow, Quarter Finals will be played at the Sport Center 3 of the National Sport Village of San Luis, Lima, starting at 9am (local time).

Second day started with tough matches in Mixed Doubles. Mexican duo Lino Muñoz and Haramara Gaitan defeated Ryan Chew/Kuei-Ya Chen (USA) after 3 games (19-21, 21-18, 24-22) and will play Quarter Finals against seeded 1 duo, Hurlburt-Yu/Wu (CAN).

“We are very happy for this triumph. We are focused on doing the best we can and so the results are happening. We don’t have much time playing together but we have the desire and the heart to do our best and win a medal. We have confidence in that each one will do his/her best and that motivates us. Team Mexico is united and we have come to give it our all.” refered Muñoz and Gaitan after their match.

Also, young athletes from Brazil, Fabricio Farias and Jaqueline Lima, are highlighting in this Pan Am Games. They got a victory against Leodannis Martinez/Yeily Ortiz (CUB) by 21-17, 21-17 and hope to defeat Dominican duo Nelson Javier/Nairoby Jimenez in Quarter Finals.
Locals Diego Mini and Danica Nishimura (featured image) also reached Quarter Finals after defeat Andres Lopez/Sabrina Solis (MEX) in an exciting match with a very loud colosseum.

“We feel a lot of excitement playing here, we feel everyone’s encouragement in the colosseum from the moment we enter the court until the end. We try to play the best we can, with confidence, calm, and focused on giving all of us. For tomorrow we want the same attitude of today, we had never played together with such a good attitude before and that was reflected in the result. Thank you all for the support you give us.”, said Mini and Nishimura after their match, and now they will prepare to compete against seeded 2 duo, Howard Shu and Paula Lynn Obanana (featured image) from USA.

In Men’s Singles, Luis Montoya continues to surprise at this championship. He defeated Artur Pomoceno (BRA) yesterday, and Cristian Araya (CHI) today, with a very consistent game. In Quater Finals, Montoya will face defending champion Kevin Cordon (GUA) who won his match against Samuel Ricketts (JAM) and is focus on reach the podium:

“Thank God I have the opportunity to be in my fifth Pan American Games. The objective and commitment is the same so we are moving forward and we are one step away from getting a medal. Pressure will always be there, regardless of the previous results, and the goal is what keeps one standing. It is important to keep the commitment, responsibility and concentration but you also have to enjoy it, that is what one has passion for.” refered Kevin after his victory.

Pan Am Junior Champion 2019. Brian Yang (CAN), also reached Quarter Finals after defeat Andres Lopez (MEX). Now, he will face Pan Am Champion 2019, Osleni Guerrero (CUB) to reach the medal.

Peru’s Daniela Macias conquered a new victory in Women’s Singles, this time against Adriana Valero (MEX) by 21-11, 21-12, now, in Quarter Finals, she will face Olympic athlete Iris Wang (USA) who defeated Katherine Wynter (JAM).

Pan Am Champion Michelle Li moves steadily towards gold. Li defeated Lauren Villalobos (CRC) and will compete against Haramara Gaitan (MEX), who overcome Jaqueline Lima (BRA) in 2 tight games (22-20, 21-19).

In Doubles, Brazil’s duo Francielton Farias and Fabricio Farias defeated locals Jose Guevara and Daniel La Torre in a tough match (21-12, 19-21, 21-12) and will face Jonathan Solis and Rodolfo Ramirez (GUA) in Quarter Finals.

Also Brazilians Fabiana Silva and Tamires Santos (featured image) reached the victory in a 3 games match against Nikte Sotomayor and Diana Corleto (GUA) with a score 14-21, 22-20 and 21-16. Now, Silva/Tamires can reach Semifinals if they defeat Chile’s duo Constanza Naranjo/Ashley Montre tomorrow at Quarter Finals match.

“We are very happy with this victory because in a previous tournament we lost against them and today we were able to beat them in a good game, with a lot of courage and desire to do things well. Now we focus to win the next game, we must work point by point.” said Brazil’s duo Silva/Santos after their match today.

Some seeded pairs will start competition tomorrow and we will continue to enjoy the best badminton of our region.

Let’s all play badminton!!!