USA Para Athletes Bring Home Medals from Brazil

By Mike Krajewski

Finals day of the 2023 Brazil Parabadminton International saw two USA athletes competing. Jayci Simon (SH6) and Miles Krajewski (SH6) competed in the women’s doubles and men’s doubles finals, respectively. The pair had already secured a 3rd place finish together in mixed doubles on Saturday when they fell to the Indian pair in a closely contested match. 

In their first tournament playing together as a pair, Simon and Yasmina Eissa (Egypt) took the rest of the field by storm and won the gold medal, defeating the pair from Chinese Taipei in straight sets, 21-17, 21-16. 

Krajewski and Vitor Tavares (Brazil) faced a difficult challenge in a rematch of the world championship final last November. Unfortunately, Krajewski and Tavares suffered the same fate this time against the combined pair from Thailand and Korea, losing in straight sets 21-14, 21-13. 

In total, the USA players brought home the following medals from the 2022 Brazil Parabadminton International:

Gold – SH6 Women’s Doubles – Jayci Simon (with Yasmina Eissa, Egypt)

Silver – SH6 Men’s Doubles – Miles Krajewski (with Vitor Tavares, Brazil)

Bronze – SH6 Mixed Doubles – Jayci Simon and Miles Krajewski

The next tournament that will see competitors from the United States is the 2023 Thailand Parabadminton International, being held May 9-14. Krajewski and SL4 athlete Richard Alcaraz are entered to compete as they continue their push to the 2023 ParaPan American Games and 2024 Paris Paralympics.