From March 11th to the 15th, the XXIV International Giraldilla Tournament took place, serving as the first Pan Am Circuit event of the year. This tournament brought together athletes from around the world to compete for glory, marking the beginning of a very busy calendar for our sport. Pan American athletes delivered an outstanding performance, securing a total of 5 gold medals, 3 silver , and 9 bronze.
Traditions have been part of humanity since the beginning; in the badminton world, one began 26 years ago in Cuba. The International Giraldilla celebrated its XXIV edition, where athletes from different countries played among themselves, seeking glory. Pan American athletes that participated earned 5 gold, 3 silver, and 9 bronze.
Cuba’s Predominance in WS and XD
The Cubans were probably the best performers in the tournament, winning two gold medals (Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles) and 1 silver medal (Women’s Doubles). Taymara Oropesa was the best player of the nation; she won in WS after eliminating Gabriela Barrios (ESA), Alissa Acosta (DOM), Juliana Giraldo (COL), and Francesca Clark (MLT). The Maltese showed bravery, but Taymara finished with the European Dream, defeating Clark by 21-12, 21-13. She repeated the goal in XD with Roberto Herrera, defeating Linares and Jimenez (DOM) 26-24 and 21-14, after a very tough final match. Taymara and Leyanis Contreras also added a silver medal to their record in WD.
El Salvador and a good campaign
Uriel Canjura earned the gold medal after passing 4 stages, defeating, in the process, Iker Herrera (CUB), Mukil Nambikumar (USA), Jose Jaime (MEX), and Bruno Carvalho (POR). Uriel got the medal without losing a single game. In Men’s Doubles, Canjura and Manuel Mejia played well, reaching the final against the USA team. The rest of the medals for the country were bronze, obtained by Javier Alas in Singles and the duo of Alas and Margareth Revelo in Mixed Doubles.
Dominican Republic: Doubles specialists
Athletes from the Dominican Republic shewed their best in doubles, earning all of their medals in these events. Clarisa Pie and Nairoby Jimenez got gold in Women’s Doubles after winning against Paula and Sofia Rodas (PAR), Barbara Lamas and Lusbeth Sanchez (VEN), and finally defeating the Cuban pair Contreras / Oropesa (CUB) by 21-10, 21-17. Yonatan Linares and Nairoby Jimenez lost the XD final against Herrera and Oropesa (CUB); that was the revenge for the Cuban loss in WD. Dominican players also won bronze medals in MD with Victor Ovalles / Ernick Zorrilla and in WD with Alissa Acosta / Daniela Acosta.
Only gold for the United States
Khatiravun Manivannan and Mukil Nambikumar won the MD gold after defeating Bencomo / Osa (CUB), Fernandez / Gonzales (CUB), and Ovalles / Zorrilla (DOM), In the final, they faced Canjura / Mejia (ESA) in a match that went beyond everyone’s skills, with the USA duo defeating the Salvadorans 21-16, 23-25, and 21-10.
Other winners
Other athletes from Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela got bronze medals for their countries: Juliana Giraldo and Jeronimo Giraldo for Colombia (WS and both in XD); Mariangel Garcia (WS), Barbara Lamas and Lusbeth Sanchez (WD) for Venezuela; and Jose Jaime (MS) for Mexico.
We congratulate all participants for their performances in the tournament, hoping that they will use the experience gained to face the upcoming competitions this year.
