The opening day of the Badminton competition at the JSJ Panama 2026 brought together athletes from several countries, including Chile, Suriname, Guyana, Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Brazil, showcasing the high competitive level of the region from the very beginning.
The atmosphere in the venue was vibrant, driven by the enthusiasm of the fans who continuously supported their athletes in every set. Notably, some students from Panama Christian Academy were present, cheering for the Panamanian athletes and experiencing the excitement of badminton up close.
One of the most closely contested matches in the women’s singles category featured Juliana Castaño of Colombia against Milena Oliva of Argentina. Castaño took the first set 21-15, while Oliva responded by winning the second set 21-17. In the decisive third set, Juliana Castaño pulled ahead and secured the victory 21-19, controlling Court 1 with strong movement and precise shuttle placement in her opponent’s court.
From another perspective, in the men’s singles category, a match that lasted up to 45 minutes took place between Colombia’s Jerónimo Giraldo and Brazil’s Marcos Almeida. On Court 2, the Colombian dominated the first set with a score of 21-12. In the second set, the Brazilian took the lead and won 21-18. In the deciding third set, Jerónimo Giraldo secured the victory with a score of 21-14.
The badminton day concluded with matches in the mixed doubles category. Martín Cheng and Alba Moreno of Panama faced Camila Mullisaca and Yhamil Flores of Bolivia. The match was decided in two sets, with Bolivia winning 2-0 over the host team.
On Court 2, Bárbara Lamas and Fabricio Rodríguez achieved a 2-0 victory over Christopher Jordan and Mishka Beharry from Guyana.
