Japan – 2020 Tokyo Paralympics: Salesian past pupils stand out

07 September 2021

(ANS - Tokyo) - The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games have just ended, an edition that has once again reaffirmed the importance of sports as a tool for social integration. Thousands of athletes from all over the world participated in this prestigeous event, including some Salesian Past Pupils. Here are several successful examples among those received by the ANS editorial staff.

The Spanish Paralympic delegation included Miriam Martínez Rico and Sara Fernández.

The first, a past pupil of the Salesians of Ibi, won the silver medal in the shotput, category F36. The past pupil achieved her goal with a throw of 9.62 meters, beating her personal best, and arriving just 11 centimeters from the gold medal, which went to the Russian Galina Lipatnikova.

Miriam is the second Paralympic medalist to have been at the Ibi center: her precursor was, at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, Jorge Peleteiro Rubio, bronze medalist in 7-a-side football. “Congratulations, Miriam. We wish you new successes,” said her old school via social networks.

The Sevillian Sara Fernández, a past pupil of the Institute of Triana, achieved seventh place in the long jump, after having jumped 4.85 meters.

The Thai national 5-a-side football team for the Blind participated for the first time in the Tokyo Paralympics, including four Salesian past pupils from the Skills Development Center for the Blind based in Pakkred, in the province of Nonthaburi. The team had Kupan Panyawut as the forward, Wimolwan Kittithat as defender, Baodee Kittikorn as secondary forward and Yingchuros Suriya was the midfielder.

At the end of the competition the Thai team took 7th place, having won against France with a score of 3-2.

The Pakkred Skills Development Center for the Blind is managed by the Salesians since 1978. The Salesians sent their warmest congratulations to these Salesian past pupils who had the privilege and the honor of representing Thailand at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Since its inception, it has promoted a dignified, sustainable and integral development of its students, also through sports and music.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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