As if she were hitting the past with strength, technique and speed, Danna Isabella Núñez hit each point with her racket in search of victory, on the second day of the Babybadminton Terranova tournament of the Festival of Festivals held in Medellín.
Far from her native country – which is now making global news after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the US armed forces – the little girl was fully involved in the game, encouraged from the stands by one of her relatives, since this time her mother and her younger brother could not attend.
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Danna is 10 years old, born in Caracas, Venezuela, and started practicing badminton at the age of 6 at the district school where she studies in Bogotá. Through a different method, where fun, conversation, laughter and happiness were key, she grew to love sports and did not see it as an activity that could bore her. That pedagogy that his physical education teacher implemented was the final stitch that helped him transform his life and heal the memories of yesterday.
It was a decision made by their mother that changed their destiny. They lived just enough: their mother worked and studied, but the situation was complex. It was 2017 when they decided to leave their country to build a new beginning. Danna arrived in Colombia when she was 2 years old, without understanding the reason for her departure; Just remember that there “everything was very nice.”
They spent a lot of time alone and it was a difficult time for her.
But life had a different path for them. In 2020, his mother started working in Julián Rodríguez’s microbusiness. Thanks to their commitment and ideas, the business prospered, and something more important emerged: affection and a family bond between Julián and Danna.
For her, her relationship with him is very special; He quickly gained confidence because he gave him a lot of support and, in his free time, he dedicated quality time to him playing badminton. Furthermore, life gave him one of the most important people in his history: his brother Alejandro.
With discipline and perseverance, Danna became the best badminton player in Bogotá in her category, and now competes on par with the best in the country. So much so that he has participated in international events such as the South American in Bucaramanga and, in 2025, he won three gold medals in the last national competition. Thanks to his talent and dedication, he has support such as English scholarships, free public transportation and specialized medical services.
Her parents are committed to her process and support her 100%. Although she has two coaches and practices four times a week, they know that the most important thing is that the little girl is happy and continues to be passionate about the sport.
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Danna, with long black hair and a slim build, says badminton has helped her erase the little bad she remembers from her past, a past she prefers not to talk about. Now she is focused on her future, where sport and family are the most important things for her.
Special collaboration, Diego Vega, Los Paisitas
Los Llanos are present at the Festival
From Yopal, Casanare, María José Rueda Guatibonza, member of the Passion Voley club, is once again present at the Festival of Festivals. She has been practicing this sport since she was six years old and, at her young age, she has already completed three consecutive participations in the Comfama Babyvolleyball. “I feel super excited and capable of becoming champion,” she says confidently.
In the 19th edition of the contest, María José faces teams from Antioquia, Risaralda, Cauca, Valle, Quindío and Cundinamarca. For her, volleyball is a discipline that requires constant unity: “It is very group, we must have connection, because if we are disconnected we can lose.” Beyond the results, it stands out that the greatest learning from the Festival is the value of collective work; Friendship, trust and support between teammates become the basis of each game. (By: Sofía Giraldo, Los Paisitas).
Kamir’s ‘Beautiful Game’
On the second day of Babyfútbol Colanta, during the match between Estrellas del Futuro Quibdó and Gobernación de Amazonas, a skilled young man with a great personality showed flashes of exceptional talent. With his fiery, dribbling and vision of the game, Kamir Guillermo Rodríguez, of Brazilian descent, impressed with the football that is in his blood.
Born in Leticia, Amazonas, right on the border with Brazil, the 12-year-old led his team with the “10” on his back, emulating his idols: Pelé, Ronaldinho and James Rodríguez. Kamir stood out for his precise passes and his ability to evade rivals, displaying that ‘jogo bonito’ characteristic of his roots.
His mother, Karen, is originally from São Paulo and settled in Leticia for a job opportunity; There he met Kamir’s father and together they raised their son under a bilingual education. The boy speaks perfect Spanish and Portuguese, a duality that has caught the attention of the public at the Festival of Festivals.
A fan of Brasileirão, Kamir dreams of playing professionally in his mother’s country, especially wearing the red-black colors of Flamengo. Meanwhile, he leaves a door open to destiny: he is excited to represent both the Colombian National Team and the Brazilian National Team in the future. (By: Tomás Hurtado Valencia, Los Paisitas)
Not even an injury sidelined him from the Festival
Jerónimo Agudelo Ballesteros did not come to basketball to fill a void, he came to find himself.
Since he was a child, he understood that the game was a form of love: running until he was tired, repeating a gesture a thousand times and staying one more second on the field just to feel like he belonged. When he talks about his team, his voice doesn’t boast of accomplishments; thank you.
On November 21, 2025, in a friendly, a fracture forced him to stop and prevented him from competing. But it didn’t take him out of the team or out of the dream. The coaching staff understood this and, although the team has 12 members, allowed him to travel as number 13 for Babybasketball 2026: a position earned with sweat and discipline, not with pity.
Love basketball like you love something that demands everything from you without promising anything. That’s why, even far from playing, he decided to be there. With crutches, with pain, with challenges and with an intact heart.
Not to pity, but to accompany, to applaud from the edge, to remind his team that commitment is not broken with a fracture. He, 13 years old, did not lose a place: he honored it. (By: Isabella Higuita Álvarez)
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