She had just brought joy to all Peruvians after winning one of the 39 medals at the Pan American Games and today, María Belén Bazo, managed to perform a new feat, becoming one of the Peruvian athletes that will participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Lima 2019 bronze medalist in the RS:X Windsurf event, a sailing competition successfully held in Paracas, obtained a quota for the maximum Olympic competition in Lago di Garda in Torbole, Italy, during the World Sailing Championship 2019.

María Belén Bazo joined the gold fleet, placing third in the first regattas, among the 28 countries competing for the Olympic quota place, in addition to the 11 countries that had previously qualified. The World Cup competitions continue, but Peru has already qualified to Tokyo 2020.

The countries already qualified to Tokyo 2020 are: Denmark, Estonia, France, England, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain and China. Additionally, the other nine countries and their representatives competing for a quota to the Olympic Games are: Hong Kong, Brazil, Peru, Finland, Mexico, Japan, Turkey, Hungary and Thailand to be defined at the end of the tournament.

The Peruvian medalist finished 18th out of 107 competitors in the qualifying series and secured a quota place in the Olympic Games. Starting tomorrow, she will compete in the gold fleet against the best windsurfers in the world, with the aim of climbing positions.

A total of 244 athletes from 49 countries are participating in the World Cup. This championship granted nine Olympic quota places for women and eight, for men.

PERUVIAN ATHLETES CURRENTLY QUALIFIED TO TOKIO 2020

1.- Daniella Rosas (quota place in surfing at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games)

2.- Lucca Mesinas (quota place in surfing at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games).

3.- Marko Carrillo (quota place in shooting at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games).

4.- Nicolás Pacheco (quota place in shooting at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games).

5.- Cristhian Pacheco (qualifying mark in marathon at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games).

6.- Alessandro De Souza Ferreira (quota place in shooting at the Guadalajara 2018 Shooting Championship of the Americas (CAT)).

7.- Israel Hilario (quota place based on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) ranking).

8.- Stefano Peschiera (quota place in the World Sailing Championship, Denmark 2018).

9.- Kimberly García (qualifying mark at the Pan American Walk Racing Cup, Mexico 2019).

10.- Mery Luz Andía (qualifying mark in the Canton Grand Prix of Race Walking).

11.- Royner Navarro Calle (quota place at the Pan American Road Cycling Championship, Mexico 2019).

12.- María Belén Bazo (quota place in the Torbole World Sailing Championship, Italy 2019).

SOURCE: IPD information.