NICARAGUAN DUO WINS AFFECTION OF PERUVIAN FANS AT LIMA 2019

According to predictions, Nicaragua had little chance of success in group D of the men’s beach volleyball competition when playing against contenders such as Canada, the current Pan American champion Mexico and the exceptional Chilean duo. However, on the Costa Verde San Miguel court, they made it clear to their rivals that they will not make it easy for them.

The energy and ability of the Nicaraguans surprised the Canadian duo and the Peruvian audience celebrated each one of their blocks and points. In the second set, they were one shot away from tying the score and playing a third set. This act of defiance won over the crowd, which the athletes really appreciated.

“I’m very happy with the support of the crowd because I really feel like I’m at home, as if I was competing in the Central American Games in Managua. We did our best and I thank you for showing your appreciation through your cheers. The atmosphere is great and the central stadium is amazing,” said Rubén Mora.

Their next rivals will be the Chilean cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt, who are placed tenth in the world ranking, although this will not be an obstacle for the Nicaraguan duo. Even though they have participated very little in the international tour and, therefore, are not competing in the same conditions, they are ready to give it their all.

“We had to adapt to unusual conditions since we always play in 35- or 40-degree weather. For this reason, it was difficult to get used to the cold in Lima, but, once we’ve warmed up, we prove that we are able to surprise everyone at the Pan American Games,” added Daniel López.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL AT LIMA 2019

Beach volleyball will take place from July 24 to 30, with the best 32 duos in the Americas playin on two courts located in San Miguel. The system consists of a preliminary round (in a round-robin format of four pools with four teams each), quarterfinals, semifinals, finals and qualifying rounds for fifth to sixteenth place.

Alexandra Mendoza and Lisbeth Allca, first place in the South American U-20 ranking and historic fifth place at the 2019 Beach Volleyball World Championship, will represent Peru. They will play against El Salvador, Cuba and Paraguay in their pool. Meanwhile, the male duo, Bruno Seminario and Gabriel Vásquez, will compete against the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Venezuela.

Tickets are still available on the Pan American and Parapan American Games website: lima2019.pe/tickets. You can also buy tickets for the Lima 2019 competitions at the 11 points of sale set up at the Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco and the Metro and Wong supermarkets and stores in Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel and Surco.