**Para Badminton Team Achieves Historic Silver Medal for USA**
PARIS — Jayci Simon and Miles Krajewski, the USA’s para badminton mixed doubles team, made history by winning silver at the 2024 Paralympics. This is the first medal for the United States and the Pan American region in para badminton since the sport’s introduction in 2020.
**Tournament Challenges:**
– Delayed flight from Atlanta to Paris due to mechanical issues.
– Match schedule changes, including a semifinal match at 10 p.m. local time.
– Competing in six matches within three days.
– Faced No. 5 ranked players, China’s Naili Lin and Fengmei Li, in the final, losing 21-14, 21-12.
**Quotes from the Athletes:**
– “We came out here, played our best and we ended up in the finals,” said Krajewski.
– “We were the underdogs and achieved our goals of reaching the gold medal match,” added Simon.
**Future Aspirations:**
– Both athletes, at only 19 years old, aim to inspire growth in para badminton in the U.S.
– Abhishek Ahlawat, from their coaching staff, emphasizes the need for more funding and popularity for the sport.
– Simon hopes their win will encourage more participation at both para and able-bodied levels.