Mexican Team Reflects on Progress and Learning at BWF World Championships

Manama, Bahrain – The Mexican Para badminton team concluded its involvement in the BWF World Championship 2026, returning home with a mix of reflection, progress, and optimism for the future. The competition, held in Manama, Bahrain, from February 8 to 14, hosted the world’s best players across 22 singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.

Team Mexico: Competitive, Resilient, and Growing

The Mexican delegation, comprising Rossana Guzmán Vilchis, María Guadalupe Rojas, Gerardo Armando Castillo, Arturo Zambrano, and Maximiliano Ávila, improved under coaches Juan Carlos García Tapia and Jesús Aguilar. Their performance was marked by commitment, character, and technical growth.

“The team showed commitment, character, and technical progress. Getting Max Ávila and Lupita Rojas to advance to the group stage and placing themselves among the 16 best in the world is not a minor result; we’re talking about a World Championship, where the best athletes on the planet compete.”

Juan Carlos García, Mexican Para Badminton Coach

Advancement and Notable Performances

• Arturo Zambrano, María Guadalupe Rojas, and Maximiliano Ávila each recorded a win and a defeat in their respective groups, with María Guadalupe Rojas advancing to the knockouts as the group runner-up.
• Rossana Guzmán Vilchis and Gerardo Armando Castillo, despite strong efforts, concluded their initial-stage campaigns.
• Maximiliano Ávila and María Guadalupe Rojas reached the round of 16 in their respective categories, the best result for Mexico in the tournament. Rojas lost to Chinese player Yuan Gaoying (9-21, 14-21), while Ávila valiantly fell to South Korea’s Nadan Cho (21-17, 23-21) in a tightly contested match.

Coach Juan Carlos García: Proud and Motivated

“I’m left with a feeling of pride and motivation. Pride in the effort and dedication of our athletes, who showed that the work being done is giving results. And motivation because we know there’s still room for growth.”

Juan Carlos García, Mexican Para Badminton Coach

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Preparation for the Next Parapan American Games and Tokyo 2020

With the future in mind, Coach García emphasized the importance of consolidating the team’s progress: “What follows is to strengthen the preparation processes to reach the next Parapan American Games at the top and continue developing talent. The objective is for results like these to become consistent, and for more and more Mexican athletes to place themselves in the final stages.” He concluded, “Mexico has already shown it can compete, and we have our sights set on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”

Did You Know?

• The BWF World Championships offer a total prize money of $1,700,000 USD.
• The event is held every two years, with the next edition scheduled for 2027 in cynosure city, to-be-named.

FAQs: Key Questions Answered

• Q: How many events are there at the BWF World Championships?

  A: There are 22 events in total – 5 men’s singles, 5 women’s singles, 5 men’s doubles, 5 women’s doubles, and 2 mixed doubles.

• Q: When is the next BWF World Championships?

  A: The 2027 edition is scheduled for cynosure city, with the exact dates to be announced.