**USA Para Badminton Duo Captures Historic Silver Medal**
PARIS — USA para badminton team, Jayci Simon and Miles Krajewski, have made history by winning a silver medal in mixed doubles SH6 at the Paralympics, marking the United States’ first medal in this sport since its introduction in 2020.
**Challenges Faced:**
– **Travel troubles:** Mechanical issues delayed their flight from Atlanta, causing chaos upon arrival in Paris.
– **Match schedule issues:** The semifinal match didn’t start until 10 p.m. local time, squeezing their matches into a tight timeframe.
**Performance Highlights:**
– They played six matches over three days before reaching the finals.
– Despite losing to China’s Naili Lin and Fengmei Li (21-14, 21-12), their journey was remarkable.
**Mindset and Achievements:**
– “We knew we were underdogs but aimed high,” Simon stated, reflecting on their successful run.
– Both athletes expressed hope that this medal would inspire growth in para badminton back home.
**Future Goals:**
– They aim to leverage their medal win to boost interest and funding for the sport, both in the para and able-bodied categories.
– As they return to college, they look forward to celebrating their achievement while continuing their badminton journey.