A big party was held this afternoon at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, where Brazil defeated Argentina and win the gold medal in the hard-fought final match of football-5-a-side, an adaptation of football for people with a vision impairment.

The Brazilians scored the first goal during the first half and, despite the multiple attempts of both teams, the scoreboard did not change before the halftime interval. The public filled the sports center and was impressed by the skills of these Para athletes and their attempts to score a goal.

During the halftime interval, the Lima 2019 Games official mascot Milco and volunteers invited everyone to stand up, including Argentinian and Brazilian fans, to dance to the rhythm of “Cariñito,” among other songs.

In the second half and after six accumulated fouls of the Argentinian team, a penalty kick was awarded for the Brazilian team, who scored the second goal. The final score was 2-0.

With the “Brazil champion” chants, the “carioca” team approached the grandstand area after the match to thank the fans, sing together and celebrate the victory.

Tamiris Francis, wife of number 9 player Tiago Silva of the Brazilian football-5-a-side team, said the team deserves this victory because they are really focused and very dedicated. “Being here makes me very happy, and I get excited because I’ve been following them and they’re the best,” she added.

Previously, Mexico overcame Colombia 1-0 and picked up the bronze medal.

The Peruvian Para badminton delegation, represented by Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, seeks the gold medal on the penultimate day of competition against the Brazilian Leonardo Zuffo at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

People who want to enjoy the Lima 2019 Ambassador’s performance against the Brazilian Zuffo, must attend the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA) at 15:00. Also, from 9:00, Peruvians Jesús Salvá and Pablo Cueto will compete for the bronze against their Canadian counterparts.

There will also be other competitions; the final of wheelchair basketball between the United States and Canada will take place in the VIDENA Sports Center 1 at 17:00. Colombia and Argentina will compete for the bronze at 14:30 in men’s competition.

The final of football 7-a-side between Argentina and Brazil will take place in the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center at 12:00. United States and Venezuela will compete for the bronze medal at 09:00.

The finals of goalball between United States and Brazil, in men’s and women’s category, will be held in the Miguel Grau Coliseum at 16:30.

Para swimming finals in 50m backstroke, 4x100m relay, 200m individual medley, among other categories, will take place in the VIDENA Aquatic Center at 09:00. The Peruvian Rodrigo Santillán will be one of the competitors.

The most outstanding Para weightlifters of the Americas will compete in the finals of 88 kg, 97 kg, 61 kg, -107 kg, +107 kg and -80 kg categories at the VIDENA Sports Center 1.

Likewise, the second day of Para taekwondo will take place starting at 09:00 and the qualified Para athletes will compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals in the K44 -75 kg, K44 +75 kg, among other categories in the final stretch of the second session, which starts at 15:00. Peruvians José Navarro and Shiroy Rentería will compete for the medals.

Finally, boccia competitions will also take place; gold medals will be defined in the individual BC4, BC3, among other categories during the first session.

Motivated by the support of Peruvian fans, the young national promise of Para sports, Rodrigo Santillán, took the sixth place in the hard-fought men’s 50m freestyle Para swimming final.  

The 14-year-old Para athlete clocked 1:15.61. Brazil won the gold medal with Gabriel Dos Santos, who clocked 57:88. Chilean Alberto Abarza and Brazilian Bruno Becker took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.  

However, Santillán seeks to prove himself tomorrow in the 100m freestyle final. He wants to seal his participation in the Parapan American Games with a medal, as well as beat his personal best of 1:13. 

On the other hand, although he has not obtained a place on the podium, the young Para athlete feels excited as the times he has clocked so far have ensured his participation in two important international competitions. Rodrigo Santillán delivers a great performance in Para swimming.  

“I didn’t think I'd make it to finals with the best of the Americas. Now my plans are for London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, which will take place in a few weeks, and Tokyo 2020,” he said enthusiastically.  

On the other hand, his coach Fernando Cuadros says that the young Para swimmer has a promising future ahead. “Lima 2019 is a great experience for him and will significantly contribute to his performance in future world championships,” he stressed.    

This way, the young Peruvian representative will seek to close his participation in the most important sporting event of the Americas with his best performance and lay the foundations to participate in two major international events, looking to immortalize his name and bring glory to his country.

The Peruvian Para swimming delegation writes a new chapter in the Peruvian history of this competition alongside the exceptional and awarded Dunia Felices. She took a place among the top eight of the Americas in women’s 200 m freestyle final.

Dunia was confident to be on the top of the Parapan American Games and to get a spot in the podium for Peru because it was her fourth consecutive final and, the day before, she won a bronze medal in 50 m butterfly.

In this regard, the stands of the Aquatic Center of the National Sports Village were filled with Peruvian vibes to cheer the performance of the Peruvian Para athlete, who got her classification in the morning to this daunting final. She was in third place of her group with a time of 3:52.41, just a few seconds behind the Brazilian Esthefany de Olivera and Joana Jaciara.

The Peruvian Para swimmer gave her best in the final, and placed fifth with 3:52.11. Brazilian Joana Jaciara da Silva won the gold medal with 3:14.71. The silver medal was for the American Alyssa Gialamas and the bronze medal was awarded to the Brazilian Esthefany de Oliveira.

She said that even if she did not get a medal in this competition it is a preparation to other international events. “Competing again the 200 meters freestyle gave me more experience for the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, which is in 10 days,” the Lima 2019 Ambassador stressed with a lot of hope.

She added that the unconditional support of the fans is a inspiration to her career in this Para sport. “While I was swimming, I listened to the cheers that made me keep going. After I left the pool, it was thrilling see my school friends, my family and all the Peruvian fans. Thanks to all your support I accomplished everything,” she expressed with excitement.

Therefore, the praiseworthy participation of the Peruvian Para athletes at Lima 2019 is evidence of a Paralympic heritage. This will be a source of inspiration for the future generations of Peruvians, knowing that everything is possible when there is courage and determination.

Callao witnessed the victory of William Fernandez, who won the bronze medal for Peru in men’s taekwondo, defeating Argentinian Facundo Novia at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

Fernández beat Novik during the competition held at the Callao Sports Center, where he was cheered on by the audience from start to finish.

The Peruvian representative showed his strength and determination in each point he obtained when facing his opponent.

It must be noted that Peruvian fans made feel their emotion because their chants were heard beyond the competition venue.

After the event, Fernández greeted the spectators with emotion and made gestures of gratitude.

This afternoon, with the support of all spectators, Peruvian Angélica Espinoza claimed the gold medal in Lima 2019 women’s Para taekwondo.

Espinoza fiercely fought for each point, beating her rival Claudia Romero from Mexico.

Each point scored by the Peruvian Para athlete was celebrated by the whole coliseum, who screamed: “Peru, Peru, Peru!” and “Cómo no te voy a querer si eres mi Perú querido, mi país bendito que me vio nacer.” (“How couldn't I love you, if you are my lovely Peru, my blessed country where I was born.”)

During the fight, spectators spelled the Peruvian athlete’s name: Angelica. Every time she scored, fans raised the letters and cheered loud for her.

At the end, Espinoza bursts with joy carrying the Peruvian flag and thanks all fans who supported her.

This event was attended by the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee Carlos Neuhaus, who enjoyed this Para taekwondo event.

We had not seen him in other sports venues but, without a doubt, his gesture of thanking the fans personally at the end of the competition, filled with emotion all the people who attended the Villa El Salvador Sports Center.

This is Carlos Cano Yañes, member of the Peruvian national Boccia team, who after the match against Argentinian Mauricio Ibarbure, accompanied by a person who helps him move in a wheelchair, went to the stands to the see the crowd that was cheering his name and also Peru throughout the game.

There, with halting words and tears in his eyes, Cano told the spectators: “Thank you very much for your support, on behalf of the Boccia team, thank you.” Immediately, some people were moved and began to sob and others took the cell phone to film this emotional moment of a Peruvian participating in the Parapan American Games.

Although the Peruvian lost the match against the Argentinian, the fans noticed that, in each throw of the ball and in each point, Cano showed courage and stamina.

Subsequently, through a dialog, Cano said that he carries the Peruvian flag in this sports competition with honor, pride, passion, and he shares that every time he plays.

“We as members of the Boccia national team want to give a message that our participation reaches thousands of people with impairments and also all Peruvians, so that the whole country notices that we are not invisible, that we are capable and we transmit that when we play,” he said.

He expressed that after the participation of Peru in Boccia, it is expected that more people can practice this sport and represent their country.

Boccia

Boccia is a sport of strategy and accuracy that was originally created for athletes with cerebral palsy, but it is currently played by people with different physical impairments.

In these Parapan American Games, Boccia has several sports classes divided into BC1, including athletes with cerebral palsy, who can have an assistant to perform actions such as passing the ball to them; BC2 for athletes with cerebral palsy who do not require an assistant; BC3 for those who have cerebral palsy or severe physical impairment. They participate using a ramp to throw the ball; and BC4 for athletes who have physical impairments other than cerebral palsy and throw without requiring an assistant.

The Peruvian team in these Games is made up of Dean Acosta, Carlos Cano, Javier Soto and María Cecilia Pancca.

Competitors in this sport have six balls of different colors (red and blue) and the game begins with the throwing of a white ball or target and the score is obtained for every ball that is closer to the jack than the opponent’s one.

He always had a solid dream: to see a venue crowded with fans supporting the Peruvian athletes and Lima 2019 gave him the chance to make it possible. “Para badminton for everybody” was his ideal years ago and he saw it at the VIDENA Sports Center 2 this afternoon. On the court 1, he qualified to the final in the SL3 class (Para athletes with little balance), while his partner Pilar Jáuregui also took the victory.

The Lima 2019 Ambassador had to push himself to the limit to defeat the Cuban Rolando Bello in two sets (21-14 and 21-15), in a match of highest physical effort that lasted more than 43 minutes. At the end of the match, De Vinatea asked for a round of applause for his opponent, who has been competing with him for several years in the professional circuit.

“I’m very proud to see this audience enjoying Para badminton, which is one of the first sports that evolved strongly in Peru. That’s why we’ve come to Lima 2019 with 5 years of preparation and seasoned players who reach the final stages. The support received before is now yielding results,” he said.

Pedro Pablo will compete for the gold medal against the winner of the match between Brazilian Leonardo Zuffo and Canadian William Roussy. At 15 and 21 years old, respectively, both are the new best Para badminton players in the Americas, with medals in Pan American tournaments. The competition is tomorrow at 15:00.

“I’ll face the final with the same mentality: so focused, without pressure, and fighting point by point, countering the strengths of my opponent. Surely, there will be a similar environment and with the people’s support we will try to win the gold medal,” added the Lima 2019 Ambassador.

The Peruvian Para badminton athlete and Lima 2019 Ambassador, Pilar Jáuregui, qualified to the women’s finals for the WH2 category, after beating the Cuban Maydelin Soriano 21-0 and 21-1.

This morning Pilar Jáuregui had already defeated the same opponent during Group A preliminary rounds, 21-1 and 21-7, after only 17 minutes. The Peruvian Para athlete said in an interview with Lima 2019 that after semifinals, she has taken another step towards winning the gold medal in Peru.

“I am very excited because my family and friends were here, along with ‘La Blanquirroja’ at every game. I am so thankful because they play an important part in pressuring the opponent,” she said.

PERUVIAN CELEBRATION

“La Blanquirroja” and many fans came together to the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA) in San Luis to cheer loudly for the different Peruvian athletes competing that day.

This is the case of Héctor Salvá, who never stopped receiving cheers from the stands, despite losing to Brazil’s Tavares during preliminary and semifinal rounds.  The same happened before with the Peruvian pair, Robert Fajardo and Ronald Miranda, who gave their all, but lost to the Brazilian pair, Cano and Soares, 21-8 and 21-13 in favor of Brazil.

Something similar happened to our Peruvian Alberto Cadenillas, who also lost to Brazil’s Cavali (21-10 and 21-4). Finally, Pablo Cueto and Jenny Ventocilla in mixed doubles lost to Brazil’s Almeida and Rosso, with scores of 21-19 and 21-18, in a 32-minute game.

Today’s session was historic for American Para powerlifting. From the stands of Sport Center 2 at VIDENA, an amazed crowd could see how the Chilean Juan Carlos Garrido, number one in the ranking, broke his own record and as well the Parapan American record, the same one that he set in Toronto 2015, with 175kg.

This time, the athlete from Antofagasta, who recently won bronze in the World Championship of Para powerlifting in at Kazajistan, lifted 185 kg and picked up the gold medal in Para powerlifting, under-the 59kg category.

With three first successful lifts, Garrido tried to improve his mark by lifting 187 kg, he did not make it though. Brazilian Junior de Franca claimed his first medal in Para powerlifting. 

There’s a considerable difference from his opponents in the medal table, the Brazilian Luciano Bezerra (silver) and the Venezuelan Carlos Betancourt (bronze); whose marks were 151 kg and 150 kg respectively.