Paula and Sofía Rodas Advance to Badminton Quarterfinals at 2026 Paraguay International
Asunción, Paraguay — In a landmark moment for Paraguayan badminton, sisters Paula and Sofía Rodas have both secured quarterfinal berths at the 2026 Paraguay International tournament, held at the Asunción Olympic Center from April 18-20. Their victories mark the first time two Paraguayan women have reached the quarterfinals of the same BWF-sanctioned international event in the tournament’s history.
Paula Rodas, ranked 142nd in the world, defeated Indonesian qualifier Putri Laurens Yuhua in straight games (21-15, 21-12) to advance to the women’s singles quarterfinals. Her older sister Sofía, ranked 128th, followed suit with a hard-fought three-game victory over Thailand’s Pornpicha Choeikeewong (21-18, 19-21, 21-16) in the round of 16. Both matches took place on Court 2 of the Asunción Olympic Center on April 19, with Paula’s match concluding at 4:30 p.m. Local time (UTC-3) and Sofía’s at 6:15 p.m. Local time.
The Rodas sisters’ achievement represents a significant breakthrough for badminton in Paraguay, a nation traditionally dominated by football and basketball. Their success at the Paraguay International—a tournament upgraded to BWF International Challenge status in 2024—highlights the growing competitiveness of South American players on the global badminton stage. Tournament director María López confirmed that the Rodas sisters are the first Paraguayan women to reach the quarterfinals in the event’s 12-year history.
“This is more than just a personal milestone; it’s a testament to the grassroots development programs we’ve invested in over the past five years,” said Carlos Méndez, head coach of the Paraguayan Badminton Federation. “Paula and Sofía have been training relentlessly at our national center in Asunción and their quarterfinal appearances validate our strategy of focusing on technical fundamentals and mental resilience.”
Looking ahead, Paula Rodas will face Japan’s top-seeded Aya Ohori (ranked 8th globally) in the quarterfinals, while Sofía Rodas draws South Korea’s Kim Ga-eun (ranked 15th) in her quarterfinal match. Both quarterfinal bouts are scheduled for April 20, with Paula’s match set for 10:00 a.m. Local time (UTC-3) and Sofía’s for 11:30 a.m. Local time on Court 1 of the Asunción Olympic Center.
The Paraguay International, part of the BWF’s International Challenge circuit, offers crucial ranking points for players aiming to qualify for major events like the 2027 Pan American Games and the 2028 Olympics. A deep run in Asunción could significantly boost the Rodas sisters’ world rankings, potentially moving them into the top 100 for the first time in their careers.
As the tournament progresses, badminton fans across South America and beyond will be watching closely to notice if the Rodas sisters can maintain their momentum against higher-ranked opponents. Their success has already sparked increased interest in badminton participation at the grassroots level in Paraguay, with local clubs reporting a 30% increase in youth enrollment since the tournament began.
For real-time updates on the Rodas sisters’ quarterfinal matches and the remainder of the Paraguay International tournament, fans can follow the official Paraguayan Badminton Federation website and the BWF’s tournament portal.
Share your thoughts on this historic achievement for Paraguayan badminton in the comments below, and stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Rodas sisters’ journey and other global badminton developments.
