THREE PARA SPORTS TO JOIN THE PARAPAN AMERICAN CELEBRATION

As it was announced in the closing ceremony of Toronto 2015—the last edition of the Games—the three Para sports will make their debut in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. Our multi-sports event, the most important in the continent, was elected to host for the first time the shooting Para sport, Para taekwondo and Para badminton competitions.

In addition, after their debut in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, Para taekwondo and Para badminton will start their road to Tokyo 2020, where they will be official Paralympic sports for the first time. By contrast, shooting Para sport has been part of the Paralympic program since the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games.

Competitions at Lima 2019:

In shooting Para sport there will be pistol (athletes with an impairment in lower limbs) and rifle (athletes with an impairment in upper and lower limbs using a stand to shoot) events, and it will take place in the brand-new Las Palmas Air Base Shooting Range.

More than 40 Para athletes—who come from eleven countries of the region—will compete on August 24, 25, 26 and 27 starting at 09:00. The American athlete McKenna Dahl, who won the bronze medal in Rio 2016 in rifle will be present among them. 

Para taekwondo will also have two disciplines: combat or kyorugi (athletes with an impairment in upper limbs) and poomsae (athletes with intellectual or visual impairment), and it will be hosted in the Callao Sports Center. The competitions will gather a total of 47 Para athletes from 16 countries on Friday, August 30 (at 09:00 and 15:00) and on Saturday, August 31 (at 09:00 and 15:00).

On the other hand, Para badminton will include three events (athletes with physical impairment with or without prosthesis and wheelchair) and it will be hosted at the VIDENA Sports Center 3. A total of 50 Para athletes from 11 countries will compete on August 29 and 30. The finals will be held on August 31 at 09:00 and 15:00 and on September 1—the last day of the Games—at 08:00.

Peru is present 

The Peruvian delegation for this Parapan American Games will be the largest ever. It will consist of 139 Para athletes, including those participating in the Para sports that will make their debut in the Lima 2019 program.

The shooting Para sport team is made up of Jorge Arcela, Steve Medina, and Milagros Palomino. The Peruvian representatives in Para taekwondo are Angélica Espinoza, the delegation’s flag bearer; William Fernández; José Navarro; and Shiroy Rentería.

The Peruvian Para badminton team includes stars such as Pilar Jáuregui, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Alberto Cadenillas, Pablo Cueto, Roberth Fajardo, Esteban Juárez, Ronald Miranda, Laura Puntriano, Jesús Salvador, and Jenny Ventocilla. They make up one of the largest teams in the Peruvian delegation.

It is worth mentioning that Peru has obtained better results at the Paralympic Games (8 medals) than at the Olympic Games (4 medals). Therefore, it is quite possible that this Parapan American Games, held in Peru, will serve as a springboard for Tokyo 2020 for many Para athletes.