With the support of the Government of Pará, athlete wins silver in Wrestling at the Youth Games
Willian Rafael, 16 years old, secures the first podium for the Pará delegation in the competition in Brasília
The athlete from Pará, Willian Rafael, 16 years old, won the silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling (up to 48 kg) at the Caixa Youth Games held in Brasília (DF). This is the first medal for the Pará delegation in the second block of the largest multi-sport competition in the country for young people aged 14 to 17, organized by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). The athletes receive support from the State Government through the Secretary of Sports and Leisure (Seel).
In the final, Willian faced the representative from Rio de Janeiro, who took the gold. Despite the defeat, the young athlete celebrated this historic achievement in his debut at the Games. "I am very happy. This is my first time at the Youth Games and I have already won a silver medal for Pará. I will continue training to bring more achievements. Tomorrow we have the team competition and I believe it will be another great opportunity," he stated.
In the women's category, the wrestler Amanda Nascimento, also 16 years old, competed for the bronze medal in the up to 73 kg freestyle category. Despite the defeat, the athlete valued the experience. "I am happy to return to the games and this time compete for third place. Unfortunately, I couldn't achieve it, but we remain motivated for the team competition," she highlighted.
In other modalities, the results from Pará were balanced:
- Women's basketball: loss 23 x 24 against Rio Grande do Norte;
- Men's basketball: loss to Paraná 81 x 30;
- Women's futsal: victory 3 x 0 against Rio de Janeiro;
- Men's futsal: draw 4 x 4 against Amapá;
- Women's beach volleyball: loss to Bahia 2 x 0;
- Men's beach volleyball: loss to São Paulo 2 x 1.
In the overall standings, Pará is in 23rd place, with two medals won so far: one silver and one bronze.
Pará delegation and the appreciation of sports
The Pará delegation consists of 61 athletes competing in basketball, futsal, beach volleyball, and wrestling. The Youth Games will continue until September 25, bringing together around 4,700 young athletes from all over Brazil.
The Secretary of State for Sports and Leisure, Cássio Andrade, congratulated the athletes and emphasized the importance of participation. "Willian's result is a source of great pride for all of us. It is proof that Pará's talent is present in various modalities, including Olympic wrestling. Each athlete who participates in the Youth Games represents not only their sport but our entire State. This event is essential because it offers experience, exchange, and growth for young people, as well as opening doors for the future of sports in Pará," he emphasized.
