Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.- In a tight match decided by centimeters, Edilson Chica defeated Euclides Grisales 3-1 in a Colombian showdown, securing the gold medal in the individual boccia category BC4 at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. This took place at the end of the morning session on Wednesday at the Centro Deportivo Comunitario Lo Espejo, the southern zone of the Chilean capital.

The victory solidifies Colombia in third place on the overall medal tally with 19 gold medals, and it places Chica at the top of the continent. This comes after becoming a world champion in pairs alongside his sister Leidy. "I am really happy and proud to have achieved the goal for which I came, in singles, the result of all the effort and work we have done until today," he remarked.

The duel between compatriots added another element to the definition of the Parapan American title. "These are very complicated matches because both of us train together, and we know each other very well. Either of us could have won, and in this case, it was my turn," declared Edilson Chica, who, alongside Karina Martínez, inaugurates the gallery of boccia champions at Santiago 2023.

The Mexican caused an upset by defeating the favorite, Salvadoran Rebeca Duarte, 7-3, to claim gold in the BC2 category, giving the Mexican delegation its twelfth gold medal at the Parapan American Games.

"I am happy, excited, content. I can't express it. It was a very difficult match; we worked all year to get to this point. What comes next is to keep working. The goal is Paris, not just mine, but every athlete here," emphasized the winner.

Written by Rodrigo Parragué y Nicolás Olea; translated by Pía Barriga Ferry / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Luis Hidalgo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport