Architecture student Valentina Parola will represent Argentina at the Pan American Table Tennis Championships, which will take place in the United States in October.
Valentina Parola is 23 years old, she studies Architecture at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario and plays table tennis at the University Gymnasium. In June, she joined the Argentine national table tennis team that will participate in the Pan American Games, from October 12 to 19 in Rock Hill, Southern California, United States.
She began playing the game during recess at her elementary school, and then, at age 11, she began practicing at the Japanese Association, the Centro Progresista Social y Deportivo, and the Rosarinos Student Club. While in high school at the Instituto Politécnico, she played in her first national tournament and placed third, which motivated her to participate in more competitions.
“What motivates me most is making friends through sports and traveling,” he says, adding that “sports give you a lot of extra things: discipline, mental training, and many tools that you then bring into your everyday life.”
He currently practices every day at the UNR Gymnasium with coach Sergio Giri, who holds several international accolades. He combines table training with the gym to gain muscle mass and acceleration. "It's a very fast sport, with very little reaction time, so you have to train a lot," he confesses.
In June, Argentina played in the South American Championships in Peru, and Argentina qualified among the top four countries in South America, earning them a ticket to the Pan American Games in October in Rock Hill. The Argentine team is made up of four women and four men, and Valentina is the only representative from Rosario and Santa Fe.
He says the level of this competition is very high because the best players are in the United States and Canada, as well as in Brazil, but he has high expectations for Argentina's participation. The events are singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. He's most excited about mixed doubles "because it's more competitive and there's a better chance of winning a medal."
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal/Photographer: Camila Casero