Sisters Fernanda and Rafaela Munar Solimano dazzled at the III South American Youth Games Rosario 2022. Of the 8 medals won by national badminton, 5 belong to them in singles and doubles. Both athletes belong to the first level of the Sportsman Support Program (PAD) of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD).
At the age of 16, the twins started playing from the age of 6 and have not stopped winning championships, achieving gold and silver medals in numerous championships played in Finland, Canada, Slovenia, Germany, Belgium, USA, Cyprus, Brazil, among other countries as well. as in numerous tournaments at the national level.
Last year the sisters faced each other for first and second place in the XXIX Junior Pan American Badminton Championship, Acapulco, Mexico in the sub17 category. “Facing my sister in a final is not easy because nobody likes to compete against her sister, but on the field you forget and she is just another rival and you have to win,” Rafael Munar tells us. Fernanda Munar tells us that “for me, the best one wins, nothing more”.
Both badminton sisters train in Ibiza and agree that “we miss Peru, it is our roots, family, friends, food, but we are clear about the sacrifice and the desire to continue growing. We prepare for all the events that come, national and international, and nothing discourages us, on the contrary, we feel happy at the Rosario 2022 Youth Games and we show that the national badminton is at the top”.
Also, last year, Rafaela and Fernanda were crowned women’s doubles champions and finalists in singles (where they faced each other), in the under-17 category of the 2021 Spanish Badminton Open. In doubles, they beat the Spanish María Jiménez and Paula Keychain and in singles Rafaela beat her sister Fernanda.
They, who enjoy the moral and financial support of their parents, have been training full time since this year in Spain and competing on European circuits. Previously they did it at the Lawn Tennis Club of the Exhibition in charge of the Indonesian coaches Anggy Sepdianto and Faizal Rahman.
“I am very grateful to my family, they have always been by our side and we want to continue improving ourselves to reach the Olympic Games and win a medal for Peru, it is our dream to continue training and competing. It is not easy, we have to make a lot of sacrifice, leave aside many things to achieve the goals,” Rafaela said.
In her turn, Fernanda indicated that “we have made a great team in Rosario and we have played as equals against the Brazilians, every point, every set, we did it thinking of all the people who support us. I think we must continue preparing ourselves, traveling , competing because it is the only way to meet our goals”.
The sisters at this time have already flown to Spain in search of fulfilling their dreams, being in the Olympic Games and for that, thank God, they have the support of their family and their parents Alberto and Karina.
badminton medals
Oro
1. Adriano Viale, bádminton individual masculino
2. Rafaela and Fernanda Munar, women’s doubles badminton
3. Rafaela Munar and Adriano Viale, badminton, mixed doubles
Plata
4. Sharum Durand, badminton, men’s individual
5. Fernanda Munar, badminton, women’s singles
6. Adriano Viale and Sharum Durand, badminton, men’s doubles
7. Fernanda Munar and Sharum Durand, badminton, mixed doubles
Bronze
8. Rafaela Munar, badminton, women’s singles.
