Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.- Mexican Para-athlete Maximiliano Ávila, an absolute debutant in Parapan American Games, had a great start to the day, both in singles and doubles, remaining undefeated in the SL4 and SL3-SU5 categories. 

His first match was against Guatemalan Raúl Anguiano, whom he defeated with scores of 21-14 and 21-15. Following that, and showcasing the high level from the first match, he went on to beat Peruvian Renzo Bances by 21-19 and 21-12, one of the contenders in the SL4 category. 

In the mixed doubles (SL3-SU5), Ávila paired with María Guadalupe Rojas, winning against Chileans Patricio Echeverría and Makarena Arriagada with a 2-0 score in the first match of Group A in just 19 minutes of play. 

Meanwhile, Canadian Pascal Lapointe matched Ávila's record with victories against Argentina's Jonathan Torres (2-0) and Brazil's Eugenio Cleto (2-0). In mixed doubles, partnering with Olivia Meier, they dominated the Cuban pair, signaling their strong contention for medals. 

Written by José Tomás Lambert; translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Ph: Diego Alvujar / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport