Four athletes from the Risaraldense Badminton League are heading abroad this week for international training and competition, marking a significant step in their preparation for the 2027 National Games. The delegation, supported by the league’s administrative leadership, will split between Denmark and Brazil to gain experience in high-level training environments.
International Training Assignments
Juliana Castaño Bedoya and Jerónimo Giraldo Gómez are scheduled to spend three months in Denmark, where they will train and compete with the Esbjerg badminton club. Widely recognized as a global leader in the sport, Denmark’s club system offers the athletes an opportunity to test their skills against top-tier international competition.
Simultaneously, Enrique Rodríguez and Juan Felipe Moreno have traveled to Brazil. The pair will remain in the country until November 30 to participate in an intensive training program at one of the nation’s prominent badminton clubs, focusing on technical development and match readiness.
Administrative Support and Development Goals
The international placements are part of a broader strategy led by league president Natalia Florez and head coach William Gutiérrez. The league aims to expose its athletes to diverse playing styles and competitive pressures to elevate the overall standard of the department’s badminton program.
Coach Gutiérrez, who also manages processes for the Colombian national team, noted that the initiative is designed to ensure athletes can compete on an equal footing with international peers. According to Gutiérrez, the program’s philosophy centers on providing consistent, high-level opportunities to prepare for the 2027 National Games, where the objective is to secure gold medals for Risaralda.
Athlete Perspectives on Upcoming Challenges
The participating athletes expressed that these international stints are vital for their technical growth. Juliana Castaño highlighted the goal of improving her technical precision and gaining match experience, while Jerónimo Giraldo noted his ambition to advance his career and potentially secure opportunities to play in Europe. For their part, Enrique Rodríguez and Juan Moreno emphasized that the training in Brazil will be essential for raising their level of play ahead of upcoming domestic challenges.
This initiative follows the ongoing administrative work of the Risaraldense Badminton League, which continues to position itself as one of the most prominent hubs for the sport in Colombia. The athletes are expected to integrate the skills acquired during these months abroad into their training cycles upon their return to the country.
Keep reading
