Portugal will be represented by 10 athletes at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, the main goal of which is to open quotas for the Paralympic Games, which will be held next year also in the French capital.
“The first goal is to try to put the most athletes in the top four to open the scoring for the country. Then, if possible, one of these athletes competes for a medal, so much the better,” said José Silva. , technical coordinator of adapted athletics from the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA) to the Lusa agency.
The Portuguese team of 10 athletes, including six women, combines experience and youth, with four members making their senior world competition debuts.
“We have a different group of athletes, everyone has different expectations, from those who go to get medals to those who strive to achieve their personal success or the best mark in the season,” said José Silva.
At the Stade Charlety in Paris, debutants Igor Oliveira, Mamudo Balde, Marcia Araujo and Sara Araujo joined six athletes with Paralympic experience: Ana Filipe, Karina Paim, Carolina Duarte, Claudia Santos, Miguel Monteiro and Sandro Baesse.
Among the main contenders for medals is shot putter Miguel Monteiro, European champion, world record holder and bronze medalist of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Filipe Rebelo, Vice President of the Portuguese Paralympic Committee (CPP), who will lead the mission, highlighted the fact that the Portuguese team includes young athletes and more women than men.
“This team demonstrates the work that continues to attract new talent to help reduce the average age of our athletes,” he said in statements to Lusa, highlighting the “importance that Portuguese athletes can guarantee quotas for the Paris 2024 Games.”
The top four teams in each World Para Athletics (WPA) event held under the auspices of World Para Athletics (WPA) open a non-nominal quota for their country for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The competition runs from today to July 17, with national participation starting on Tuesday with Karina Paim taking part in the 400m T20 round and Miguel Monteiro taking part in the final F40 weight throw.
– Portuguese selection:
Ana Filipe (long jump T20 – mental retardation).
Karina Paim (400 m T20 – mental retardation).
Carolina Duarte (400 m, T13, visual impairment).
Claudia Santos (long jump T20 – mental retardation).
Igor Oliveira (400m T20 – mental retardation).
Mamudo Balde (100m T54, motor disability).
Marcia Araujo (200m and 400m T12 – visually impaired).
Miguel Monteiro (shot put F40, motor disability),
Sandro Baessa (1500 m T20 – mental retardation).
Sara Araujo (100m and 200m T12 – visual impairment).
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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