SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Apr. 11, 2024) - History was made in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic when Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, and the host nation qualified for the first time for the Paralympic Games.
These nations will be taking part in the Paris 2024 Paralympics after their athletes secured qualification spots en route winning the gold medals at the Pan American Qualification tournament for the Games.
As many 24 athletes (18 men and six female) from 12 countries participated in the Paris 2024 qualification tournament which offered 10 Paralympic quota spots.
There were some exciting matches in men's events.
Argentina’s Miguel Galeano shocked Mexico’s Ivan Torres, the Santiago 2023 Para Pan American Games champion, 14-11 in the Men K44 -58kg final. Galeano had to overcome tough challenges of athletes from Guatemala and Brazil to earn Argentina its second ticket for Paris.
Home favourite Geraldo Castro pleased the home crowd first winning over Venezuela's Orlando Figueroa in the semi-final and followed it up with a convincing performance against Cuba’s Marco Antoni Mayor. Castro won the Men k44 -63kg final 29-23 to earn a slot for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Puerto Rico’s Oscar Fontan beat USA’s newcomer Aiden Carmody in the semi-finals of the Men K44 -70kg to qualify for the final against the number one seed from Cuba, Michael Suarez.
In the final, Suarez proved too strong against Fontan winning the match 37-8 and earned Cuba’s second slot for Paris at the tournament.
In Men K44 -80kg, Aruba's Elliott Loonstra surprised Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games champion Andres Molina of Costa Rica in the semi-finals and went on to face Brazil’s Claro Lopes de Oliviera in the final.
The final turned out to be a close battle going into a golden round finish with the Brazilian Lopes finishing on top.
In women's events, Cuba’s Lidia Montes de Oca defeated Peru’s Laura Puntriano in a closely fought in Women K44 +65kg final with the scores reading 13-10.
Others who secured quota places for Julio Armando Figuereo (DOM) - M +80kg, Lilisbet Rodriguez (CUB) F -47kg Elisabeth Geraldo (DOM) F-52kg, Valeria Morales (VEN) F -57kg, Constanza Scarlett Fuentes (CHI) F -65kg.
