The Para badminton final held at the Sports Center 2 of the VIDENA was both epic and exciting! Raúl Anguiano achieved a milestone in the history of the Guatemalan Para sport, by claiming their first medal in the Parapan American Games.

On Friday Anguiano has already given a reason to celebrate to the Guatemalan people as he qualified to the finals and took a medal in the individual SL4 category. In the final, he dismissed 2-0 Oliveira, with partials of 21- 16 and 21-12, and could not hide his excitement for this victory and dedicated it to his family.

“It’s amazing. It’s a blessing. Winning a medal is both a huge honor and responsibility because when you are an athlete, you become a public figure,” said the current Parapan American champion.

They already knew each other, and the statistics were on the Guatemalan’s favor, which eventually reflected in the match result. “It’s the fifth time we face each other, and he’s improved a lot. He’s very talented, but I was more relaxed. I’m sure he’ll be a great champion too,” he stressed while his delegation friends cheered on him, just like they did during the match.

“Playing in an environment like this was very important for me. I had never had so much support. It’s exciting to listen to your friends from other sports, technical teams and managers encouraging you. This victory is not only mine; it’s also theirs because they were an essential part of the match,” he added.

Anguiano started playing when he was 10. He used to play conventional badminton until he discovered Para badminton and was considered the world’s number 1 at some point. At age 44, he arrived at Lima 2019 as flag bearer of his delegation and praised the growth of Para badminton in Peru. Meanwhile, Team Peru hopes to reach the top of the podium in Para badminton with Pedro Pablo de Vinatea. 

“I was the first player of this sport in our region. That’s how I met my friend Pedro Pablo de Vinatea. I’m happy to see Para badminton has grown a lot in Peru, and I’d like it to grow more in my country too, just like it’s happening here,” he concluded.

The story behind each medal won by the four Para athletes, during the press conference about the Lima 2019closing ceremony, is the true reflection that everything is possible in life. Peruvian athletes Israel Hilario and Angélica Espinoza, Colombian Angélica Bernal, as well as Brazilian Verónica Hipólito, showed their immense gratitude with the organization of the Parapan American Games.

Hilario (Para cycling) and Espinoza (Para taekwondo) won two gold medals for Peru yesterday and thrilled the fans. Hilario achieved a better record in the time trial event, despite competing in an integrated race against opponents with a lesser physical impairment. The athlete from Huánuco thanked Lima 2019.

“These Parapan American Games became a very important vehicle for social inclusion, because athletes with an impairment have demonstrated that we are productive and represent Peru with dignity,” said Hilario, Lima 2019 Ambassador, who won gold in Para road cycling. 

Likewise, Espinoza stated that Lima 2019 became one more reason for hope for the Para athletes. “With these Games it was demonstrated that many things can be improved with opportunities, because we have always had spirit and sacrifice, and surely in Santiago 2023 you will see a more important delegation in terms of results,” she mentioned.

The story of Brazilian Hipólito is moving. After overcoming 203 benign tumors that made her unable to train since 2007, she reached the last quota for Lima 2019 in the final stretch. Not even the two head surgeries that prostrated her two years in bed could with her energy. She will take home three silver medals and the affection of Peru.

“I enjoyed these Games more than the ones in Toronto because I literally came back from nowhere. Doctors said I could not compete again and winning a medal was illogical. Life brought me to Peru and I leave grateful to everyone and my message is that sport is only the first step for an inclusive society. We can regain happiness with sport,” stated Veronica, a former world and Parapan American champion.

Finally, Colombian Bernabe, who won gold and silver medal in wheelchair tennis (singles and doubles) also obtained a quota for Tokyo 2020. She never gave up despite losing her right leg and today is among the best in the Americas. “Peru did a great job of inclusion that could be imitated by other countries,” she said.