With Diego Elías in the squash semifinals and three Peruvian leaders in sailing: the Peruvian figures seeking to crown a golden Santiago 2023

The beginning was nothing more than a small scare. Then, Diego Elías demonstrated all his talent to qualify for the semifinals of the individual squash in Santiago 2023, thus guaranteeing a medal for his showcase.

The number 2 in the PSA World ranking is one of the candidates for the title. Yesterday morning he made his debut easy against the Chilean Matías Lacroix (11-1, 11-2 and 11-0), and in the afternoon he played the quarterfinals against the Canadian David Baillargeon, who gave him a fight only in the first set.

Baillargeon took advantage of the Peruvian’s hesitant start and won 11-6, but then it was all for Elías with a convincing 11-3, 11-4 and 11-5, to get into today’s semifinals, where he will face the Mexican Leonel Cárdenas, 27 in the world ranking. The winner will advance to the game for gold, the loser will keep the bronze.

Unfortunately, Alonso Escudero could not advance and fell in his debut in this discipline. Now, he will have to wait until the weekend to compete in the team division, along with Diego Elías and Rafael Gálvez.

Elías is one of the cards to continue adding gold in the medal table. Peru already has seven thanks to leaders such as Cristhian Pacheco, Kimberly García and Luz Mery Rojas in athletics. With Lucca Mesinas, ‘Piccolo’ Clemente and Mafer Reyes in surfing, and the pleasant surprise of Hugo Ruiz Calle in cycling.

With this, the hope of continuing to climb the medal table grows. At the close of this edition, Peru is in 9th place, with 22 medals, seven of them gold.

-Letters-

The medal forecasts made by the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP) have been reflected in what has been happening in Santiago, but the pride of the Peruvians has already exceeded the expected golds, with seven in three different disciplines and with some cards still to be put on the table.

In addition to Diego Elías, the golden stickers that the Peruvian delegation has include figures such as Alexandra Grande, the sailing boys with the Olympians Stefano Peschiera and María Belén Bazo at the head, in addition to seeing Kimberly García at the top again from the podium.

According to COP forecasts, these sports should bring us more joy. In a presentation prior to the Games, they assured that there are six disciplines that were aiming for gold: athletics, shooting, surfing, squash, karate and sailing.

Only in shooting it was not achieved, but what was achieved was two bronzes with their respective Olympic quotas for Nico Pacheco and Daniella Borda.

Today we can celebrate a new gold and on Saturday repeat with Ale Grande, who competes in karate kumite -61kg. It is not one of the best seasons for Ale – she has just reached the fourth round in the World Cup – but she is still a reference in the sport. Although she left the top ten of the world ranking in her category, she is the second best Latin American, behind the Ecuadorian Jacqueline Factos.

Ale is the only Peruvian athlete to become a three-time Pan American champion, after her gold medals in Toronto and Lima.

In sailing, the races are already taking place and until yesterday, María Belén Bazo (windsurfing), Caterina Romero (sunfish) and Stefano Peschiera (ILCA 7) lead their modalities, having completed half of the competition. Meanwhile, Jean Paul de Trazegnies (3rd in sunfish) can climb to the bream. The tests end on Friday and the medals are awarded on Saturday.

And a glorious weekend is expected for Peru, with Kimberly again in action, this time in the 20km relay race, where she competes alongside César Rodríguez. Both have to walk 42km, with two runs of just over 10km for each one. Peruvians have qualified for Paris 2024 and hope to continue bringing joy to the country.

And Peru trusts in what each of its nationals can do. We have María Luis Doig in fencing, golf, Basque pelota and contact sports such as wrestling and karate, as some of the disciplines that need to be seen in Santiago and that can give us new joys.

There is little left to see the end of these Pan American Games and the Peruvian delegation receives more applause every day.

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