(by: Edgardo Vazquez)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic—From April 16 to 21, 2024, the Caribbean Senior Championship was held in Santo Domingo, attracting the best talent in the region in an event of high competition and great excitement. The Puerto Rico Delegation stood out notably, finishing with an impressive balance of 9 medals.
Puerto Rico won 2 gold medals in the Men’s Team and Women’s Team categories. The men’s team, made up of Ángel Naranjo, Oscar Birriel, Jabdiel Torres and Gabriel Pérez, and the women’s team, made up of Brianna Burgos, Fabiola Díaz, Alondra Rodríguez and Edmarie León, showed extraordinary cohesion and determination.
Additionally, Brianna Burgos achieved a silver medal in Women’s Individual, demonstrating her skill and tenacity in each match. The team also took home 6 bronze medals: in Women’s Individual, obtained by Fabiola Díaz and Alondra Rodríguez; in Men’s Individual, achieved by Jabdiel Torres and Oscar Birriel; in Women’s Doubles, with Alondra Rodríguez and Edmarie León; and in Mixed Doubles, with the couple Ángel Naranjo and Brianna Burgos.
As the coach of America’s Butterfly team, I couldn’t be prouder of our athletes’ performance. Under the direction of experienced coaches Bladimir Díaz and Edgardo Vázquez, our young competitors, all of them under 22 years of age, demonstrated an exceptional competitive level and a promising projection for the future of table tennis in Puerto Rico.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to Butterfly América and Bowie Martin Jr. for their continued support and for believing in the potential of table tennis in Puerto Rico. His commitment has been essential for the development of our athletes. I also wish to thank the Puerto Rican Table Tennis Federation, its president Iván Santos and his wife Leticia Castaldo, for their tireless work and dedication to promote and support this sport on our island.
Puerto Rico’s performance in the Caribbean Senior Championship is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players and coaches. Each medal earned represents not only a personal achievement, but also the collective effort of a team working together to achieve excellence.
As we reflect on this successful campaign, I can’t help but feel great optimism about the future of table tennis in our region. Our athletes have proven that they have what it takes to compete at high levels and continue to make a significant mark on the international stage.
Let’s go Puerto Rico!
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