“Now they look at us with different eyes, more than with pity, with admiration”, Giuliana Poveda and the reasons for her three Sports Laurels in one day

His dream is to make a film about the lives of people with disabilities and his story could well be the main argument for the success of that dream film. Giuliana Poveda Flores is the most awarded parabadminton player in our national sport and she continued adding recognitions yesterday. In all fairness, she received three Sports Laurels in the same day thanks to her successes in the 2022 Parabadminton World Cup.

But as she herself admits, it is thanks to the team that they have formed in the National Badminton Federation that she can celebrate those achievements. Nilton Quispe and Rubí Fernández, their teammates in the short team, and Pilar Jauregui, from the wheelchair parabadminton modality, were also recognized.

Thus, the national team received seven Sports Laurels in one day, three of them for Giuliana, two for Pilar Jáuregui and the other two for Nilton and Rubí, thanks to the podiums they achieved in last year’s World Cup.

“I am very excited because I have been able to enjoy it with my family. They are from Chepén and they have come for this day”, tells us Nilton, who won the silver medal in mixed doubles at the World Cup, along with Giuliana Poveda.

The Laureles delivery ceremony became very emotional when it was time to deliver the diplomas to the parabadminton boys. The videos made a lump in the throat of each attendee, their smiles made everyone happy and Giuliana’s speech ended up bringing tears.

“Words would not be enough to express the happiness I feel inside, because behind a great achievement there are always great sacrifices and everyone knows all the efforts we make. I thank God on behalf of all my colleagues for life, for health. To our parents, families, for all your support. They are our motivation, ”said the athlete, unable to avoid tears, as she recalled the effort they and their coaches make to continue improving day by day.

His story

Giuliana Poveda received three Sports Laurels yesterday thanks to her individual and duo successes, but the highest award she has received is public recognition not only as an athlete, but as a great example of life, as highlighted by the Minister for Women Nancy Tolentino Gamarra, present at the ceremony.

At 21, Giuliana already knows what it means to be crowned world champion -she did it in 2019 in singles and last year in doubles-, but, above all, she knows what it means to be the face of inclusion after suffering the loss be valued by society.

“It was a stage that I had to go through to know my worth, to know where I am, to be able to learn from experiences. It has helped me to be strong and better every day, not like them [los que la discriminaron en algún momento]”, tells us the athlete.

But Giuliana found in her family the strength to get ahead, especially in the image of her mother who always knew how to accompany her. She lost her father when she was just 11 years old, but she always keeps him in mind, since he was the one who made her feel the same as everyone else. “He told me that I was going to be big and look… [nos señala sus Laureles]. My dad was the first person who was with me. When she passed away, my mom had a hard time, but she gave us the best”, an emotional Giuliana tells us.

And it was his mother who took him to parabadminton. “She forced me,” the player says, laughing. Her mother encouraged her to practice different sports, to study English, and when she was 14 years old, Giuliana suggested that she try the racket and the pen. She “He told me:“ Look, there is this new sport. Try it, come three days to see if you like it”. I told her no, because she trained volleyball, but she forced me, she convinced me, ”she tells us.

And so, since 2014, she ventured into parabadminton until she became the best in the world. She was a world champion in 2019-she received her first Laurels-and in 2022 she achieved gold in doubles. “They are very committed guys. That helps them make a lot of effort”; Gonzalo Castillo, president of the Badminton Federation, tells us.

Since he took office, he decided to bet on parabadminton, he took them out of the old courts of the National Stadium and took them to train in La Videna, along with those of conventional sport. “The issue of inclusion was raised from day one. Now in all the championships we include parabadminton. They train together, they mix and that makes the level grow. Inclusion has been a success in the Badminton Federation”, the leader tells us.

And the work between coaches and athletes is highly valued. Derly Delgado is one of those who works directly with para-athletes and has been able to give them the value they deserve. “It has cost them a lot because of the society in which we live and thanks to the support of the technical team of the Federation, we have been able to do all this. More tournaments are coming, Santiago 2023, next year’s World Cup and Paris 2024, our great goal, ”he tells us.

And it will be Giuliana’s challenge too. The short female athlete could not compete in Lima 2019 because her modality was not opened, nor in Tokyo 2020. But in the new Olympic cycle that possibility has been opened. Just yesterday Giuliana and Nilton were informed that they have qualified for the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games and that has motivated them a lot.

“It was frustrating not to be at those Games because I had the ability to win medals. Now I am excited to be in Santiago and to be able to enjoy those tournaments with my teammates, to be all together in the stadium or carry the flag or share in the villas all together. I haven’t been able to live that experience so far and I hope to live it in Santiago, have fun and win a medal, if possible a gold one”, Giuliana tells us.

But his gaze points to the highest. The young athlete will seek her qualification to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. “It is a dream to be able to qualify and be on the podium. It has always been my goal, I want to achieve that great dream and give that great gift to her family, ”she tells us.

But his victory is now bigger. Yesterday he celebrated three Sports Laurels and saw his teammates Rubí, Nilton and Pilar receive the honors. “Now they look at us with different eyes, more than with pity, with admiration for the effort we put in,” Giuliana says.

This is the story of Poveda, our world champion made everyone cry with her message of inclusion and gratitude, but she is the most emotional with her achievements. She is a champion of life.

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