Puebla will seek to increase its participation in the upcoming National Olympics by adding new sports and strengthening disciplines that received little attention for years, e-consulta.com reported.
The state currently competes in approximately 35 or 36 disciplines, according to the Subsecretariat of Sport and Youth. Officials intend to expand that presence so that athletes from Puebla compete with full teams across a larger number of categories.
Among the sports targeted for expansion are badminton, shooting, field hockey, artistic swimming, and racquetball. Authorities are working to strengthen training processes, preparation, and talent detection in those areas.
“Ya existen acercamientos con la federación de bádminton y se realizan cursos en coordinación con maestros de Educación Física, con la finalidad de acercar esta disciplina a niñas y niños desde temprana edad,” said Mauricio García Castillo, subsecretario de Deporte y Juventud, e-consulta.com reported.
García Castillo also highlighted the importance of strengthening weightlifting, identifying it as one of the sports with the highest potential for Puebla to win medals at national competitions.
Expanding athletic participation requires more than simply adding disciplines, according to García Castillo. He noted the state must also secure trained coaches, better preparation processes, and a solid developmental structure for athletes in their earliest stages.
“La Secretaría del Deporte, bajo la administración del gobernador Alejandro Armenta, trabaja en la construcción de equipos más numerosos y competitivos, con el propósito de que Puebla tenga una mayor presencia y mejores resultados en las próximas Olimpiadas Nacionales,” García Castillo told e-consulta.com.
