In addition to securing a historic bronze medal for Mexico, Mexican badminton player Ramón Garrido was moved to tears as he got closer to qualifying for Paris 2024 by winning the quarterfinals at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in 2023.
Garrido won his quarterfinal match against Brazilian Ygor Coehlho de Oliveira, the defending champion of Lima 2019, who couldn't win a set against the player from Nuevo León. The scores were 21-14 and 21-15.
The Mexican, who participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing 2014, is seeking to qualify for Paris 2024. He is currently ranked 98th, a position that could change with the cutoff and if he continues to advance in this Pan American competition.
Tears of happiness to overcome the bad times
After his match against the Brazilian player, the Mexican player was moved to tears as he couldn't participate in Lima 2019 due to a knee injury that kept him out of competitions for several years. His last Pan American participation was in Toronto 2015.
¡???????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????! ????????????
Ramón Garrido advances to the semifinals of men's singles badminton, at the XIX Pan American Games #Santiago2023, by defeating the Brazilian ???????? Ygor Coelho 21-14 and 21-15.
????️The Mexican beat the Olympian and Lima 2019 champion. pic.twitter.com/v0egdUJpkM— CONADE (@CONADE) October 23, 2023
Garrido's bronze medal is the first for Mexico in men's individual badminton. The Mexican will play in the semifinals against the winner of the match between Guatemalan Olympian Kevin Cordón, who is competing for Panam Sports, and the Peruvian Adriano Viale.