A delegation made a strong showing by securing a silver medal in the individual category and reaching the quarterfinals in team competition.
Nine athletes from Rondônia’s table tennis team participated in the South American Masters Championship 2025 held from April 15 to 20 in Rio de Janeiro. The team achieved notable success with Afonso Guedes winning a silver medal in the individual category and progressing to the quarterfinals in the team event.
The team’s participation was made possible by the Rondônia government through the Athlete Support Program (Pró-Atleta), an initiative managed by the State Secretariat for Youth, Culture, Sports, and Leisure (Sejucel), which provides air travel for athletes in various sports.
The team participated thanks to the Pró-Atleta program.
After finishing as vice-champions at the Brazilian Table Tennis Championship in December in Chapecó (SC), the Rondônia team arrived at the South American Championship, further establishing their growing presence in national and international sports.
According to Rondônia’s governor, Marcos Rocha, the athletes’ performance reflects the government’s investments in sports. “The Pró-Atleta program is essential to ensure that our talents have the resources they need to represent the state well,” he noted.
The Pró-Atleta program supported 1,480 athletes in 2024 alone, resulting in 1,160 medals won in both individual and team sports.
The president of the Rondônia Table Tennis Federation, Jesse Targino, emphasized that the silver medal is a testament that the state is on the right path. “The support from the Pró-Atleta program has been crucial in ensuring our athletes are present and ready to compete at a high level,” he stated.
According to Sejucel secretary, Paulo Higo, “the state government has been strategically working to promote high-performance sports, and the results at the South American Championship reinforce our commitment to our athletes. We believe in the sporting potential of Rondônia,” he added.
Leave a Comment