He paralympic badminton Spaniard is having a sweet moment. The 2025 results, which consolidate years of silent work and a determined commitment to growth, have drawn one of the most brilliant seasons in history. On the court, between rackets and shuttlecocks, Spain has achieved performances that are now part of its sporting memory.
In October, at the European Championship held in Istanbulthe team had the best harvest of its career: six medalsdistributed in one silver and five bronzes. A boot that reflects emerging talent, the consolidation of references and the evolution of a structure that has known how to grow at the pace of its athletes.
Among the most notable is Ivan Seguraincreasingly established among the world elite of the SH6 category for short players. The man from Granada won three bronzes, one in singles, another in men’s doubles and the third in mixed doubles.
In Turkish territory it also stood out Paco Motero, Spanish leader in the WH1 category for wheelchair players. The Huelva native touched the gold after playing a memorable final against the Italian Yuri Ferrigno, which was decided by a very tight 21-16, 15-21 and 20-22, with Motero wasting two match points. Even so, he added another bronze to the continental balance in men’s doubles WH1-WH2, partnering with the German Rick Cornell.
The sixth Spanish medal came in SU5, with the duo formed by the Asturian Pablo Serrano and the Galician Manuel García Rosendowho confirmed to be one of the most solid couples on the international stage.
Beyond therapy, an elite quarry
The growth of Paralympic badminton in Spain is closely linked to work of the National Hospital for Paraplegics of Toledocommon origin of many trajectories that have turned this sport into a way of life. Among those who emerged from its tracks, a new gem now stands out: Maya Alcaide.
At 16 years old, the woman from Córdoba – born with spina bifida and in a wheelchair since she was 13, after her ninth operation – has revealed herself as one of the great promises in WH2. A member of the Castilla-La Mancha Inclusive Badminton Sports Technique Center, she has had a good season in her debut. In April he won bronze at the Czech Republic International, in November he repeated bronze in Indonesiaand in August, at the Internacional in Peru, he achieved silver in mixed doubles with Paco Motero.
Peru, a new scenario of success
The Lima tournament left six medals for the Spanish delegation. Iván Segura was once again the protagonist with a silver in singles and a bronze in mixed doubles SH6 alongside the debutante Olivia Burgoawho also added another bronze in women’s doubles with the Peruvian Andrea Montoya. Two new medals were added thanks to the bronzes of Paco Motero and the Serrano-García Rosendo tandem.
The course had already started with optimism in March, during the International of Spain of Vitoria-Gasteiz. There, Motero achieved a silver in doubles and an individual bronze, while Iván Segura signed another bronze in doubles, this time partnering with the Polish Oliwia Szmigiel.
The Spanish team closes a season of sustained growth that fuels a dream: that for the first time a Spanish player can qualify for the Paralympic Games in badminton, with their sights set on Los Angeles 2028. The results of 2025 allow us to dream about it.
