U.S. Through to Finals After Dramatic Win in XXIX Pan Am Junior Championships 2021 Team Event

On the second day in Acapulco, Mexico at the XXIX Pan Am Junior Championships 2021, the U.S. team event athletes showed remarkable determination with a 3-2 win against Brazil to end the round-robin matches and then defeated Peru 3-0 in the semifinal round. 

Joshua Yang and Joshua Yuan narrowly lost to Brazil’s Davi Silva and Deivid Silva in boy’s doubles, 19-21 and 20-22. 

In girl’s singles, Natalie Chi went three games against Brazil’s Juliana Viana Vieira, opening with a 21-16 win before falling 17-21 and 16-21. 

Don Henley Averia notched the first win for the U.S. with 21-12 and 21-17 wins in boy’s singles against Brazil’s Marcos Ryan Santos Sousa. 

In girl’s doubles, Francesca Corbett and Allison Lee continued the momentum by defeating Brazil’s Maria Julia Da Cruz Nascimento and Karen Santos Souza, 21-8 and 21-8.

Finally, Ryan Ma and Bhaavya S Manikonda capped off the day with 21-16 and 21-10 victories over Brazil’s Gabriel Cury and Julia Viana Vieira. 

In the semifinal round against Peru, Joshua Yang and Joshua Yuan defeated Sharum Durand Cardenas and Fabrizio Tabini Pinasco in boy’s doubles. In girl’s singles, Natalie Chi defeated Rafaela Munar Solimano 21-13 and 21-15. In boy’s singles, Don Henley Averia defeated Sharum Durand Cardenas 21-10 and 21-10.

Play will continue on Saturday as the U.S. moves on to face Brazil again in the finals at 1pm CDT. 

For an overview of results, click here. Click here to access the Badminton Pan Am YouTube finals stream.

Follow the official USA Badminton Instagram here for updates on the Pan Am Junior Championships and Olympics!