๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ญ
๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐น ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฟ
I was born in a poor family in the east part of El Salvador. I played football as a child but when I was a teenager I came across badminton. Itโs been 11 years now. Besides being a coach for the Salvadoran Association, I work in a public high school as an English teacher and sports teacher.
๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ป
In 2010, after finishing the university I decided to study something related to sport. I got into the department sport office (called INDES) and they talked about a badminton training session in the coming days. After watching videos on the internet and reading about this sport I signed up for that session offered by the National Badminton Association of El Salvador. Since then I have continued taking as many courses as possible to enhance my skills.
๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฒ
Badminton is not a very common sport in my region. It caught my attention because I could develop this sport in the east part of my country and spot talented youngsters could represent us in future for international competitions.
Badminton has been part of my life since the day I saw it. Every afternoon I get my rackets and practice badminton with my kids.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ป
The first athletes I got were boys; for almost two years girls didnโt show interest in this sport. The principal in my school developed a project to build a roof over the badminton courts, which attracted a lot of new players to badminton.
Badminton presents me with a challenge, because we as coaches have to deal with different difficulties such as parent support, economic and social situations, traveling to competitions, training courts, and so on.
๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ต๐๐๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ
Our region is a high-risk area because of crime, poverty, and lack of education access and opportunities. Through badminton we encourage kids to be disciplined with their studies and we have taught them to set goals and make an extra effort to get what they want. Several former badminton players have become professionals working in companies.
๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ต๐๐๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ
I have learnt to be a creative coach. I have learnt to listen my athletes and to support them emotionally. I have learnt that sport prepares you for life
