San Lorenzo de El Escorial, specifically the main hall `El Zaburdón', was the stage where the Spanish Inclusive Badminton Championship was held.
Different Spanish regions like Asturias, Galicia, Castilla La Mancha, Cataluña and Madrid took part in the competition acquiring all of them a mixed team composed by at least 1 disabled player and 3 non-disabled players.
Different disabilities could be found during the tournament like middle hyperacusis in both ears; developmental disorder-maturity retardation, development disorder intellectual disability- deficiency of the osteoarticular system; SU-5 disability in left arm and classified in international SU-5 para-badminton; amputation lower members classified in WH2 para-badminton international; control Asia and wheelchair class WH2 para-badminton.
The competition system was played through two groups of 3 teams and both winners would access directly to the final.
The final was played between Asturias, which came into the first place in group B vs Castilla La Mancha, the winner in group A and which beat the Asturian team with much superiority (3-0). In the match for the third and fourth place, Madrid won in Galicia and Andalucía in Catalonia completing the podium of the competition.
Thus, the players of Castilla La Mancha team, Guillermo Arcos, Andrés Fernández, Jorge Jerez, Laura Garcia, Ines, and Patricia Vidal Pineapples were the new national champions of this wonderful and new Spanish Inclusive Badminton Tournament in scholar age.
This kind of competition has opted for an inclusive sport model where badminton, along with table tennis, rugby and swimming have been helped by the Sanitas Foundation, a pioneer in promoting inclusive sport along with the High Sports Council (CSD).
The Spanish Badminton Federation is the main coordinator in the Badminton for All (B4ALL) programme which encourages inclusivity. This programme is co founded by Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
To know more about the B4ALL programme click here.
To know more about the Spanish Badminton Federation, click here.