The sport’s leading Para badminton stars from Pan Am continued their journey towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the recent Parapan Am Games in Lima, Peru.

In front of a huge crowd and Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea took badminton gold in the men’s singles Standing Lower (SL3) after defeating Brazilian Leonardo Zuffo 21-11 21-3 on the final day of competition.

“These Games have been very emotional with the public and the noise and all that, but I have had to remain calm and focused to win every match,” said de Vinatea.

Pan Am champion, Pilar Jauregui Cancino, won Peru’s second gold in women’s singles Wheelchair (WH2) after defeating Yuka Chokyu (CAN) in the final 21-12 21-1.

Guatemala won their first medal at Lima 2019, gold through Raul Anguiano, who was crowned men’s singles SL4 champion after beating Brazilian Rogerio De Oliveira 21-16 21-12.

“To win this gold medal was my goal, but I had to go step by step,” said Anguiano. “It is so important and now I want to celebrate with my people and my family who came from Guatemala.”

Brazil claimed the most medals with four gold, four silver and two bronze.

The first Para badminton medal of the Games was won by Mikaela Costa Almeida (Brazil) in women’s singles Standing Upper (SU5).

Vitor Goncalves Tavares added another gold for Brazil, defeating 14-year-old Miles Krajewski (USA) in men’s singles Short Stature (SS6) final 21-18 18-21 and 21-14.

Tavares and Krajewski had partnered each other just a week earlier to take bronze in men’s doubles at the TOTAL BWF Para-Badminton World Championships 2019.

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** Text sourced from Paralympics.org and Badminton Pan Am