Julián Andrés Santa
The Risaraldense badminton team returned to action and immediately with joy and the best news by raising the department’s flag high, being crowned champions of the First National Senior and Under-19 Championship that was held in the municipality of Buga. There the group led by coach William Gutiérrez participated with seven athletes, of which four were women and three men.
Overall champions
Our team was present in four finals, winning the women’s singles with Juliana Giraldo; Likewise, they won the U-19 women’s singles title with Juliana Castaño and the senior women’s double final was won by Juliana Giraldo and Karen Patiño; Finally, the U-19 women’s double was obtained with Juliana Castaño and Natalia Ochoa.
First competition of the year
Although it was the first national competition of the year for Risaralda badminton, the balance was more than positive and that is how Juliana Giraldo describes it. “Very happy, the experience was very nice, we went with a lot of expectations because it was the first event, so we were able to analyze how the other departments were, how we were doing and it went very well, we were overall champions with four gold medals and two bronze medals and we returned to the highest point, which was what was important.”
Gold in women’s singles
“In the first round I faced the champion of the National Games and I beat her in two sets; Then I continued advancing and it was my turn against Valle, against Antioquia and we were champions. On this occasion I did not play mixed doubles, Karen and Quique were there; I was only in women’s singles and women’s doubles,” adds Juliana Giraldo.
Again in the Minor Coliseum
“We are very happy to be able to return to training at the Coliseo Menor after a year and a half or so that we did not have a stage and we are very happy because we no longer have to travel to various places, but we are there. Yes, it is a little uncomfortable sometimes when it rains but hey, it can be solved and the important thing was to have a fixed space.”
Competitions to come
“This year there are quite a few competitions, the second is a valid women’s competition in Cundinamarca, from May 17 to 19, after that we have a national senior competition also in this same department and it runs from July 18 to 21. Later in August I have international events with a small tour of three countries, the idea is to be able to attend and later on another international tour where I also hope to be and that is the calendar,” points out the prominent athlete from Risaralda, Juliana Giraldo.