Play Continues at 2023 Spanish Parabadminton International

By Mike Krajewski

The third day of the Spanish Parabadminton International presented a lighter schedule for Team USA, with just three matches. 

Richard Alcaraz (SL4) played his first SL3/SL4 men’s doubles group match and his final SL4 men’s singles group match. 

Alcaraz partnered with Kenneth Adlawan (Australia) in men’s doubles for the first time. The pair played a competitive match against the combined pair from Venezuela and Mexico, but ultimately fell 21-10, 21-14. 

When asked about the match, Alcaraz stated, “With no other SL3 or SL4 players from the US, I have had to play doubles and mixed doubles with players from different countries every tournament. It takes some time to get used to different playing styles and I think that showed in this match. I had never had an Australian partner before and in this tournament both my men’s partner and mixed partner are from there, so that’s been a cool experience.”

Alcaraz played Rogerio Junior Xavier De Oliveira (Brazil) in his final group match for SL4 singles. Oliveira demonstrated why he won the singles title at the recent Pan Am Parabadminton Championships, defeating Alcaraz 21-4, 21-7. 

In the only other Team USA match of the day, Miles Krajewski (SH6), defeated Ivan Segura Escobar from Spain 21-5, 21-15 to secure the top spot in his group. The win earned him a bye into the SH6 men’s singles quarterfinals. He was featured in an article by the Badminton World Federation. Click here to see it.

Jayci Simon, Team USA’s third player, did not have any matches on Wednesday, but will look for wins on Thursday to secure her spot into the quarterfinals of SH6 women’s singles and SH6 mixed doubles (with Krajewski). 

Additionally, Alcaraz will finish up group play in SL3/SL4 men’s doubles and play a Round of 32 match in SL3/SU5 mixed doubles. 

Follow USA Parabadminton’s results on Tournament Software at: https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/tournament/3F10C1B7-4C97-4FEF-8D35-FA251EF57AA4

And follow the matches on Badminton Spain’s YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@BADMINTONSPAIN

Photo Credit: BadmintonPhoto (Alan Spink, Craig Burgess)

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