Fourteen year old Beatriz Monteiro is shocking the world by making it to her second semifinal in two weeks, and may make to her first final tonight.
The Portuguese teenager made her arrival to the Para badminton scene just eighteen months ago at the Irish international 2018, when there was no depth to the field of SU5 female players.
Group stage exits were a familiar result in her next four internationals and it wasn’t until the 2019 event that she had made her debut, did Monteiro escape the groups and reach a quarterfinal, where the Netherlands’ Megan Hollander beat her in straight games.
This trip to South America marks the fourteen year old’s best performances. She picked up her first bronze medal last week in Brazil after taking a game off Japan’s Mamiko Toyoda in the quarters, who was then forced to retire in the second end allowing Monteiro through to the semifinals.
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More to follow for the Portuguese star
Tonight she may go onto to even better in Peru, as she has just defeated third seed Hollander in a grueling three game battle which ended 21-17 in the third. Her semi-final this evening is against the number two see Zehra Baglar (TUR).
European badminton fans will be pleased to hear we will have a player in tomorrow’s final whichever way this evening’s semifinal plays out. The winner will go on to face top seed Japan’s Kaede Kameyama tomorrow to fight for gold.
Look out for updates from the Peru Para badminton International 2020 this week, see tournament software here for draws and results.