Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Claudia Rivero, one of Peru's best badminton players, has qualified to play in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

She is the first Peruvian badminton player to have qualified to play in the Olympics on her own.

Mario Carulla, who represented Peru in Atlanta in 1996 was able to do so because he was invited. Lorena Blanco, who took part in the 2004 Summer Olympics was also invited.

This was not the case with Claudia, who qualified for the Summer Olympics on her own.

"I traveled to Germany to train for two years just so I could qualify. I stopped studying administration at the University of Lima and everything ... I was afraid to think what would have happened if it had all been in vain, but I finally qualified," Claudia said. "It's a reward."

Claudia, who will now compete with 32 other female badminton players, is currently ranked 45 by the Badminton World Federation. Only two players are selected per country.

"I'm enjoying my vacations, going to the beach, dancing and doing everything I can't do over there," said the 21-year-old.

Valeria, Claudia's older sister is also a badminton player. The two had planned to play in the doubles competition together but affirmed that the country's sports federation had been slow in supporting them.

Claudia was one of 140 badminton players that applied for a scholarship at the Badminton World Federation Training Center in Germany, which prepares athletes to qualify for the Olympics.

Once there, she prepared for two years and has finally achieved her goal.