Roberto Espinoza Mogro, special envoy
SANTIAGO
Valeria Echever won a silver medal for Ecuador after losing her +68 kg karate bout at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.
Echever lost 2-1 against Mexico’s Guadalupe Quintal at the Contact Sports Center, in the National Stadium complex.
About the performance of the judges in their fight, the tricolor simply said: “Unfortunately, that’s the game, sometimes you win, sometimes you learn, but I’m leaving grateful that I brought my country a medal.”
But that doesn’t take away his happiness for this medal: “The support of my country, my family and my coach Luis Valdivieso.” To have all this support is very comfortable for me, I felt great and I really enjoyed this day of the Pan American Games.”
“I came here for the fruits of my labor, because I finished the whole recovery process,” added Echever, who arrived at the Games after recovering from physical injuries in Peru.
Finally, the karate player dedicated this medal to the surfer Israel Barona, who died last Tuesday in a hotel on the beaches of El Salvador as a result of a heart attack.
“I wanted the gold for Israel, but I dedicate this silver to my teammate (from Ecuador) with a lot of love and respect,” Echever concluded. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
