SANTIAGO – Olivia Meier of Winnipeg won the bronze medal on Saturday in the women’s SL4 standing category in Para badminton while William Roussy of Maria, Que. advanced to the gold medal game in men’s SL6 singles at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
Meier, a second-year law student at the University of Ottawa, defeated Jenny Ventocilla of Peru 21-13, 21-18 to step on the podium for a second straight Parapan Ams. She took silver in 2019.
‘’It was really good,’’ said Meier, 24, who has a right-side weakness in both her upper and lower body. ‘’I knew my opponent pretty well, we’ve played each other many times and have been partners in doubles. I got a good pace going early and I just tried to maintain that.’’
The 20-year-old Roussy is the sole Canadian with a shot a gold in Para badminton after he defeated Jonathan Cardoso of Brazil 21-8, 21-17. He will face Pedro Pablo De Vinatea Estrade of Brazil in the final first thing Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
‘’I worked very hard before the Games to get to the point where I am now,’’ said Roussy, who has hemiplegia on his left side. ‘’I’m really happy with my game here, especially the precision of my shots. I have a medal now, but I want it to be gold.’’
Two other Canadian entries were also vying for a bronze but lost their medal matches for fourth place.
Pascal Lapointe of Montreal lost to Breno Eduardo Johann of Brazil 21-11, 21-19 in men’s singles SL4 standing; and Bernard Lapointe of St-Léonard, N.B. and Mikhail Bilenky of Burnaby, B.C. fell to Fernando Vilcachagua and Roberth Fajado of Peru 21-16, 21-11.
Lapointe (men’s WH2 singles), Bilenky (men’s WH1 singles) and Yuka Chokyu of Vancouver (women’s WH2 singles), all lost their semis on Saturday and will play for bronze on Sunday, the last day of the Games.
