Taymara Oropesa

Havana, MarCH 15 (ACN) -- A marathon day is taking place at the opening of the 22nd edition of the International Badminton Tournament Giraldilla de La Habana 2024, which will last until March 17, with the participation of representatives from 13 countries.

On Thursday, Taymara Oropesa, Cuba's top racquetball player, made her debut with a triumph in the women's singles event by beating Peru's Namie Miyahira 21-13, 21-16.

With that victory, Oropesa, who won the first medal (bronze) for a Cuban at that level in the sport of shuttlecocks at the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile 2023, advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's singles.

Runner-up in the Central Caribbean event in San Salvador last year, the player herself had previously made her debut in the women's doubles, a modality in which she was partnered by Brazil's Fabiana Silva.

The two players joined forces to win with scores of 21-19 and 21-13 against the duo of Chequeda de Boulet, from Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyanese Priyanna Ramdhani.

Likewise, in the Sports City Coliseum, in duels of local badminton players, Reidan Cervantes, Diosbel Tamayo and Juan Carlos Bencomo were successful in their debut in the round of 32 of the men's individual specialty.

Another winner in the same event was Leandro Gil, who defeated Canada's Easton Watson in three sets by 17-21, 24-22 and 21-14.

Cuba will be represented by 27 racquet players, 11 women and 16 men, in a competition that will award 1,700 points for the world ranking to the winners in each of the five modalities, singles and doubles in both sexes, as well as the mixed doubles.

As for foreign participation, the traditional event will be animated by badminton players from 12 countries, including Guatemala, Canada, Peru, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Kenya, Ireland, India, Indonesia and Malta.