Tuesday, November 21st, 2023.- The highlight this Monday for Team Para Chile was the gold medal won by Juan Carlos Garrido, Jorge Carinao and Camila Campos in the mixed team competition in Para powerlifting, the eleventh for the local delegation, which allows them to surpass what they achieved in Lima four years ago. It is the best Chilean performance in the history of this continental event.

Juan Carlos Garrido, Jorge Carinao and Camila Campos achieved a score of 355.4, and thus prevailed over the Colombian team, which scored 117.9 and won the silver medal thanks to Eglain Mena, Carlos Yajue and Bertha Fernández.

In swimming, the local credit, Alberto Abarza, added a new silver medal to his personal account, the second in Santiago 2023 and the seventh in the Parapan American Games, which makes him the Chilean athlete with the most medals in continental events.

In wheelchair tennis, three Chileans remain in the competition. Chilean Macarena Cabrillana (20th in the world ranking) advanced to the semifinals and was one win away from a medal, after defeating American Maylee Phelps 6-3, 6-3, in 90 minutes of play. In the semifinals she will face Colombian Angelica Bernal, ranked 10th in the world.

Francisco Cayulef also entered the fight for the medals in the quad category, after defeating Canadian Mitch McIntyre by 6-3 and 6-2, in one hour of play. Cayulef will meet in the semifinals with Brazilian Leandro Pena, who defeated American David Wagner 6-0, 6-2.

The third player remaining in the wheelchair tennis competition is Alexander Cataldo, who advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to his victory over Colombian Manuel Sanchez. In the quarterfinals, the Chilean will face Brazil's Gustavo Carneiro Silva.

In boccia, Alfonsina Urrejola achieved a great victory over the Brazilian runner-up, Josiane Batista da Silva, which allowed her to reach the semifinals. The commercial engineering student did not disappoint and, despite starting with a 2-0 disadvantage, won 6-2 in the BC4 category.

Team Para Chile is in fourth place in the medal table with 11 gold, 12 silver and 7 bronze medals, surpassing what it did in Lima 2019, when it won 10 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals and was in eighth place.

Written by Erwin Acevedo; translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Javier Valdés Larrondo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport