Neuquén finished the National Evita Games in Mar del Plata with 38 total medals, securing 21 golds, 11 silvers, and 6 bronzes, realitysanmartinense.com reported.
The province climbed to 11th place in the overall standings after placing near the bottom of the table in the previous edition.
Neuquén traveled to the coastal city with 335 athletes competing across 34 disciplines. Thirty sports fell under conventional categories, while four comprised adaptive sports.
The medal count split evenly between the two divisions with 19 medals secured in each. Conventional sports generated 7 golds, 7 silvers, and 5 bronzes, whereas adaptive competition yielded 14 golds, 4 silvers, and 1 bronze.
The women’s futsal team reached the tournament final for the first time in provincial history. Cecilia Bartoloni’s squad played Tucumán to a scoreless draw before dropping a 3–1 decision in a penalty shootout at Club Banco Provincia.
Padel made its debut at the event, where the mixed duo of Jeremías Deimundo and Delfina Fernández advanced to the final. Guided by coach Claudio Sammaroni, the pair took the silver medal after falling 6–2, 6–2 to Córdoba in a match where Fernández played through physical discomfort.
Santa Fe captured the overall team title combining conventional and adaptive results, followed by Córdoba and Mendoza. Neuquén finished as the second-highest ranking Patagonian delegation behind Santa Cruz, which placed ninth overall after leading the adaptive medal table.
Río Negro and Tierra del Fuego followed further down the standings, while La Pampa did not participate in the competition.
Badminton swept every available event in its category, while the women’s beach handball squad successfully defended its title from the previous year. Additional podium finishes came from judo, taekwondo, breaking, e-sports, and freestyle events.
Provincial sports officials credited the performance to ongoing community and federal athletic development programs across the region.
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