The Ayacucho–Lima 2025 Bolivarian Games once again bring together athletes from several countries in the region, in an edition that features prominent badminton players and competitors from a wide range of disciplines. Among them are Peru’s Inés Castillo and El Salvador’s Uriel Canjura, both Olympians at Paris 2024 with extensive international experience. Castillo also played a symbolic role for the host nation as one of the athletes who took part in the official torch-lighting ceremony in Peru.
For the Peruvian athlete, Castillo has accumulated strong performances at continental events and at the Valledupar 2022 Bolivarian Games, where she was part of the gold-medal-winning badminton team. Her appearance at Ayacucho–Lima 2025 follows a season of preparation that included tournaments in Australia, South America and Central America, allowing her to gain competitive rhythm ahead of a demanding calendar.
Inés Castillo: “Sport is a hard but beautiful path”
Castillo explained that her build-up to this edition was based on a long block of training and competitive events. “My preparation involved a lot of training and preparatory tournaments across South America and Central America,” she said. She added that the recent tournament in Australia “helped me gain rhythm,” and highlighted the trust built over years working with her coach: “We’ve been working together for years, so it’s a big source of confidence.”
In her message to young athletes, Castillo emphasised the value of perseverance. “Choosing sport is something very beautiful, it’s something difficult… and in a country like Peru it’s also difficult,” she stated. “You have to fight for every step, but in the end it’s always very rewarding.” For Castillo, each defeat is part of the journey, while every victory brings “a happiness” that balances the demands of high-performance sport.
Uriel Canjura’s competitive outlook
Ahead of the tournament, El Salvador’s Uriel Canjura noted that he arrives in strong physical and mental condition after beginning his preparation in June. He recalled his participation in the most recent World Championships, where he faced the Olympic silver medallist, describing that match as an important test in his development. He also highlighted that he won the previous edition of the Bolivarian Games, although he expects a demanding competition this year: “I’m going to have to fight because more new and young opponents are emerging. Kevin Cordón didn’t come, but there are others who are good, and mentally I’m very eager to play.”
Asked about the strongest rivals, Canjura explained that “all the rounds will be difficult,” with particular attention to the delegations from Peru and Guatemala. “Peru is a very strong rival,” he said. He underlined that both teams arrive with competitive line-ups and recent results in team events, shaping a high-level landscape for the upcoming matches.
