The good performance of the Peruvian badminton delegation at the III South American Youth Games Rosario 2022 created the expectation that the sisters Rafaela and Fernanda Munar, Adriano Viale and Sharum Durand would have the opportunity to be at the XIX Bolivarian Games Valledupar 2022 in Colombia. . However, the gold, silver and bronze medalists have been ruled out for this event which represents the start of the Olympic cycle.
“Dismissed without providing us with any sorting options. For the South American Youth Games, the Technical Unit of the Badminton Federation determined a series of matches so that the best can qualify by showing it on the court. This is how the Peruvian team that defended our colors in Argentina was formed. However, for the Bolivarians they have indicated in the federation that now ‘other athletes deserve an opportunity’”, the athletes point out.
The Republic spoke with the president of the Peruvian Sports Federation of Badminton, Gonzalo Castillo Guzmán, who explained the decision of the entity he directs.
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“Youth games are one thing and older games are another. The level is different, they are different things, whether they are South American, Bolivarian or Pan American. They are youthful and among the best. In the case of Valledupar, we have a range of older athletes and four men and four women have been chosen, who are undoubtedly the best. If you put them to play with the boys who went to Rosario, you see the superiority, they don’t enter the equation. There is no point of comparison, they are different levels”, he pointed.
Castillo also pointed out the reasons why a selective selection was not made prior to the Bolivarians, as happened for Rosario. “They are extraordinary, but they still need to be able to compete at a higher level. For Rosario, a selection was made because there were other youth athletes who were fighting for those positions. The list has already been sent to the COP for Valledupar. First the long list was sent and now the short list has been sent; Everything was done by the Technical Unit after the participation in championships and the ranking; The board of directors does not get involved at all, ”he added.
The badminton players who will represent us at the Bolivarian Games in Valledupar, from June 24 to July 5, are Fernanda Saponara, Inés Castillo, Paula La Torre and Daniela Mejía. The boys are José Guevara, Diego Mini, Diego Subauste and Daniel La Torre.