Brazilians win six gold medals in table tennis in Santiago Parapan
In the finals of the first Paralympic table tennis categories at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, the Brazilian delegation clinched six gold medals. This achievement guaranteed their spots at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. Thiago Gomes, Danielle Rauen, Marliane Santos, Cláudio Massad, Paulo Salmin, and Luiz Manara capitalized on the opportunity to secure direct qualification for next year's mega-sporting event as Parapan individual champions.
Thiago Gomes, competing in class 11 (intellectual disability), beat Venezuela's Denisos Martinez 3-0. In class 9-10 (physical-motor disability), Danielle Rauen triumphed over her Brazilian counterpart Jennyfer Parinos 3-0 in the gold-medal match. Marliane Santos, representing class 3 (wheelchair users), secured her victory in the final against compatriot Joyce de Oliveira with a 3-1 result. Paulo Salmin faced fellow Brazilian Israel Pereira Stroh in the final, emerging victorious with a 3-1 scoreline.
Adding to the Brazilian triumph, Cláudio Massad, competing in class 10 (physical-motor disability), claimed the Parapan American championship by defeating Chile's Manuel Echaveguren 3-0 in the final. Completing the roster of Brazilians guaranteed a spot in Paris through their performances at the Parapan American Games, Luiz Manara, in class 8 (physical-motor disability), secured the title by overcoming Costa Rica's Steven Roman with a 3-0 victory.
