Nine athletes will compete at the Parapan American Games, November 17-26, in Santiago, Chile
OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 8, 2023 /CNW/ – A team of nine para badminton players has been named to compete for Canada at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Badminton Canada announced Friday.
Canadian Parapan American Team Santiago 2023 – PARABADMINTON
Bernard Lapointe, Wyatt Lightfoot, Olivia Meier, William Roussy and Yuka Chokyu are among the nine para badminton athletes named to the Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan American Team. PHOTO: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships))
Mikhail Bilenky – Burnaby, C.-B. – WH1 (classification)
Yuka Chokyu – Vancouver, BC – WH1
Colleen Cloetta – Baie d’Urfé, QC – SS6
Justin Kendrick – Oakville, Ont. – SS6
Bernard Lapointe – Moncton, N.-B. – WH2
Pascal Lapointe – Montréal, QC – SL4
Wyatt Lightfoot – Regina, Sask. – SS6
Olivia Meier – Winnipeg, Man. – SL4/SU5
William Roussy – Baie-des-Chaleurs, QC – SL3
Olivia Meier is the team’s only Paralympian in the sport of Parabadminton, who made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. She currently sits 25th in the world rankings in women’s singles SL4. Yuka Chokyu, number 8 in the world rankings in the WH1 category, is also a Paralympian. She participated in three editions of the Games (2000, 2004, 2008) in wheelchair tennis.
“I am very proud to have managed to qualify for the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago,” said Meier. “The 2019 Games in Lima were fantastic, and I am happy to have the opportunity to represent Canada again alongside my teammates. »
Six members of the team also competed at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, as Parabadminton was introduced to the program. Five of them brought home medals. Meier was a gold medalist in mixed doubles and a silver medalist in singles; Pascal Lapointe (No. 31 in the world rankings) won gold in mixed doubles and bronze in singles; Chokyu won silver in singles and Bernard Lapointe, bronze in men’s doubles.
Bernard Lapointe is currently on the comeback path after missing the 2022 season due to injury.
Four years ago, Colleen Cloetta (No. 29), then aged 14, was Canada’s youngest athlete at the Lima 2019 Games where she competed in para-swimming. She won a bronze medal as a member of the women’s 4x100m relay team. She will be in action again at the Parapan American Games in her new sport, Para badminton.
Also on the team that competed in Lima in 2019 were Wyatt Lightfoot (No. 15) and William Roussy (No. 11).
“I always say you have to fake it until you make it. I’m very lucky to be able to compete at the Games again and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Bernard Lapointe. “After my shoulder surgery last year, my future in the sport was up in the air, but now I’m very happy to be back competing and I feel lucky with how everything worked out. unrolled. »
Those who will be participating in the Games for the first time are Mikhail Bilenky (No. 26) and Justin Kendrick (No. 18).
“I have worked hard over the past year to be named to the Parapan American Games team,” said Kendrick. “I’m excited about competing in a multi-sport event for the first time. »
Para badminton competition at the Parapan American Games will take place from November 22 to 26 and will include men’s and women’s singles and doubles events, as well as mixed doubles events. The tournament will allow athletes to obtain ranking points, which will count in the race to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The nine Canadian athletes will compete in the single events in their respective categories. Cloetta and Kendrick as well as Meier and Pascal Lapointe will also team up in mixed doubles, while Bilenky and Bernard Lapointe will compete in men’s doubles. Para badminton classifications have been established for athletes who compete standing with upper or lower limb disabilities, as well as athletes of short stature and those who compete in wheelchairs.
“I am delighted to welcome the nine para badminton athletes to the Canadian Parapan American Team,” said Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission of the Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan American Team. “It is a tremendous honor to represent their country at the Parapan American Games, and I witness all their dedication and efforts to reach this pinnacle. They will be supported by the whole team and myself in Santiago. »
“I extend my congratulations to each of the para badminton players and welcome them to the team for Santiago! », added Karolina Wisniewska, co-head of mission. “Parabadminton is still a relatively new sport on the Parapan American program and the Paralympic program, and I know it has grown a lot in Canada in recent years. I can’t wait to see him in person and cheer on these incredibly talented and hardworking athletes. »
The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games will take place from November 17 to 26, 2023 in Santiago, Chile. Canada is expected to send a team of around 140 athletes.
Prior to official nomination to the Canadian Parapan American Team, all nominations must be approved by the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The current list of athletes named to the team is displayed ICI. The final approved list will be communicated before the start of the Games.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympique.ca
About Badminton Canada: Badminton.ca
SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships)
Information: Contacts, Nicole Watts, Senior Manager, Communications and Public Relations, Canadian Paralympic Committee, [email protected] / 613-462-2700; Maxine Gauthier, Communications and Programs Officer, Badminton Canada, [email protected] / 705-822-2494
2023-09-08 15:00:00
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