They are twins and very similar! The sisters Paula and Sofia Rhodes they are a great duo. They play fervently badminton and they have already begun to reap success. Together they have a lot of energy that comes in handy to practice the various sports in which they take part, but it seems that badminton is the chosen one at the moment.
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Power to spare for badminton
With 13 years old in April, they already have a vast experience in various sports disciplines. They answer the questions in unison and show a complicit mischief typical of the closest brothers; They take this magic to the practice of badminton, a sport in which they have already played against each other on several occasions.
They comment that it was thanks to a sports exhibition that took place in the National Sports Secretariat (SND) for the Children’s Day who discovered hitherto unknown badminton. That happened in 2018, they were curious about all sports, and tried them all that day.
Professionals from the branch told them that they had a “hand for badminton” and that was when Sofía first decided, and a little later the same year Paula was also enthusiastic.
“Before we played more sports, like tennis, paddle tennis, ping pong, but now only squash, basketball and badminton,” emphasizes Sofía. But they have some differences in terms of tastes; Paula is also in love with figure skating, and Sofía comments that she is not at all. The momentum of the two sisters knows no bounds!
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Eager to get moving, they thoroughly enjoy practices and tournaments. They already collect national medals, and they say that the last competition they were in, in Santa Rita, Sofía took first place in the U17 women’s single, in mixed doubles A (which she played with her beloved teacher Ariel), and in women’s doubles , with her sister Paula, who also obtained second place in singles.
“We always get to the final together”, they say again in chorus, and they confess that they love to play against each other, and there are no problems, since they are used to it. “I always win”, maintains one, to which the other intervenes with a: “Lie, I always win”, followed by powerful laughter from both. And they clarify that they never fought or would fight for a game.
They have older brothers who also like badminton, but they don’t practice because they don’t have time, they both say, adding that their parents also tried it and, although they don’t usually go to play, they are always there to support them.
Looking to the future in sport
They dream of participating in the Olympics carrying the name of Paraguay high in the not too distant future. They were recently participating in an international tournament in the Brazilian city of Foz de Yguazú, and they were also victorious. They say that they have no problem playing in categories above their own, since in their daily practices they always play with older players, so it is usual for them to have a stronger opponent.
“They are always bigger than us.” With both men and women, the two sisters train full with whom they have to play.
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They don’t know how many medals each one has. “We put our medals together,” they say, adding that this was because, initially, one had few medals, and they decided to join so that none of them would notice the difference. A true union of brotherhood.
Today they do separate their most important awards, the international ones, for example, and they also keep each one they obtained in basketball or skating, since each one also stands out in those sports on their own.
More than practice partners
“In this sport, you hardly run, but rather travel”, they explain properly and add that they almost never get tired, but others tell them that it is very tiring.
They have a feeding guide, they consume a lot of cereals and they eat very well, since they are in full growth stage. They comment that at school they support them a lot, and their classmates know how well they are doing in badminton, since they miss a lot because of the tournaments.
Partners and opponents, sisters and friends, these two teenagers will still give a lot to talk about.
How is the training of athletes in badminton
Ariel Benitez (27) is Sofía and Paula’s teacher at SND. He discovered this sport just 3 years ago; he was studying Physical Education, a classmate took him to know badminton and he was crushed.
“I liked it because it’s a sport in which you move a lot, you sweat a lot, and it’s quite fun. It is not of much impact, so injuries are not very common, ”she emphasizes.
Unlike other racket sports, badminton does not use a ball, but rather a device called a shuttlecock, which is made of cork with feathers. This does not bounce, so it is a discipline that is played only above the net, which is positioned at a height of 1.55 m, standard for any age. As for clothing, they only require shoes with rubber soles, so as not to slip.
“Badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world,” says the teacher. There is also beach badminton, and you can play 3 against 3, but it’s called air badminton.
The conventional one is played yes or yes on a closed court, since with the steering wheel the wind can play an important role by providing changes in direction, etc.
The sports school of the SND receives students from 6 years old and up to 17 years old free of charge. If you are looking for private classes, they also have classes from 6 years old to 60 or 70 years old, inclusive, and they even have tournaments for people over 50 and 60.
To burn calories with badminton
The professional explains that this sport will be easier for those who already have previous experience in tennis or paddle tennis, due to the grip of the racket and paddle, but when it comes to hitting, it often gets a bit complicated because they must be very different. .
The secret to badminton is knowing how to use your wrists well, he explains.
It is also very good for those looking to lose weight, since it is one of the sports that burns the most calories. An intense hour of badminton burns 400 to 500 kcal, he says.
A match usually lasts between 30 and 40 minutes, and 3 sets of 21 minutes are played, with so many in a row, and the best of 3 sets is the winner. He says that there are currently approximately 100 athletes in Paraguay and they hope to be able to expand more soon. It is also practiced at the CIT, at the Schoenstatt school in San Lorenzo, in Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazú, Encarnación and Ciudad de Este (where badminton began in Paraguay).
It hasn’t been that long since this sport has been taking place locally, it’s only been around 7 or 8 years since it started being played, so most of the athletes are very young. “One of the oldest is Leo Lee, and he is only 20 years old, but he has already gone to play in Dubai,” says Benítez.
Inclusivity with para badminton
Today there is also para badminton. Since this year it has become more inclusive and they train people with different types of disabilities, whether they are short, in a wheelchair or amputated in the leg or arm area. It is for any age, and so far they have students from 6 years old to some 40, but there is no limit. Practices are on Saturdays from 10-11:30.
More info
Facebook: Paraguayan Federation of Badminton
Address: SND Complex – Av. Eusebio Ayala and RI 6 Boquerón
