PARIS (AP) — Team USA’s first two para badminton players are leaving Paris with a couple more pieces of Paralympic history around their necks.
Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon won silver medals in the mixed doubles SH6 classification for athletes with short stature on Monday. The two 19-year-olds lost the gold medal match to a more experienced duo from China — Naili Lin (32) and Fengmei Li (31) — at Porte de la Chapelle Arena in northern Paris.
Gold was the ultimate goal for Krajewski and Simon, but they said they were elated by the final outcome. After all, Krajewski and Simon qualified for the Paralympics by grabbing the final available spot back in April.
“We knew that we were the underdogs, and our goal was just to get out of group,” Simon said. “That was our first goal, and then to get to the gold medal match, so we achieved both of those.”
A medal was the extra reward, one they were hungry to take once they arrived in Paris.
“I think that no dream is ever too big, so why not dream big?” Simon said before her first mixed doubles match. “It would really help grow the sport in the U.S. because we would have something to back us up, and I think that it would create more funding and more opportunities.”
Simon herself is a product of someone else’s desire to grow the sport. She had never heard of badminton before meeting Krajewski’s father, Mike, at a Little People of America sports camp in 2016. Mike was impressed with her athleticism and recommended Simon try para badminton.
Drawing the American public’s attention to para badminton is a goal for Mike Krajewski, but he has another key demographic in mind, as well: future Paralympians. The elder Krajewski says he helped recruit every short stature member of U.S. para badminton and some members of Canada’s team, too.
“We’ve got to build on that momentum and … explain to them there’s other paths,” he said. “I think that’s what we need to do is provide the opportunities, provide the camps.”
Like Simon, many young American athletes with impairments choose to compete in adaptive sports more popular than para badminton, like wheelchair basketball, para athletics and wheelchair tennis.
Miles says he is seeing more badminton academies appear in the U.S. along with an increase in para badminton players in international tournaments, but expects much more in the near future.
“Hopefully it will grow at least five times as big,” Krajewski said last Tuesday, contemplating how a medal could affect U.S. para badminton. “Just start slowly (and) continue to grow.”
Krajewski and Simon plan to have a long career of trailblazing ahead of them, but will take a break from the sport first. Simon will start her sophomore year at Lansing Community College while working part-time as an optometrist, and Miles will begin his freshman year at the University of South Dakota.
What about immediate plans?
“Celebrate first,” Simon said.
“Well, I’ve got to get drug tested now,” Krajewski said. “Then celebrate.”
Jack Leo is a student in the undergraduate certificate program at the Carmical Sports Media Institute at the University of Georgia.
AP Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games
Miles Krajewski from the U.S. hits the shuttlecock during the gold medal mixed doubles SH6 match against Naili Lin and Fengmei Li, from China, during the Paralympic Games in Paris on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. China won the match in straight sets. (AP Photo/Avni Trivedi)
U.S. Para Badminton coaches, Moss Lattison and Abhishek Ahlawat, right, talk to Miles Krajewski, left, and Jayci Simon in between sets of the mixed doubles SH6 gold medal match against Naili Lin and Fengmei Li, from China, during the Paralympic Games in Paris on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. China won the match in straight sets/ (AP Photo/Avni Trivedi)
Miles Krajewski, left, and Jayci Simon, from the U.S., high-five during the gold medal match against Naili Lin and Fengmei Li, from China, during the Paralympic Games in Paris on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. China won the match in straight sets. (AP Photo/Avni Trivedi)
Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Manchester United fought back to beat Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday to give new manager Ruben Amorim a victory in his first game at Old Trafford.
Hojlund also set up the opening goal scored by Alejandro Garnacho in the opening minute of the game, but United still had to stage a comeback in order to stay unbeaten in the competition with two victories and three draws.
After the visitors took a 2-1 lead, Hojlund equalized just before halftime and then scored the winner five minutes into the second half from close range, tapping in a cross from Manuel Ugarte.
After leaving Portuguese leader Sporting Lisbon to replace the fired Erik ten Hag as United manager, Amorim made his debut in charge of United in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich in the English Premier League with Marcus Rashford scoring 81 seconds into the game.
In the Europa League, the goal game even sooner.
Hojlund intercepted a back pass to goalkeeper Nikita Haikin to allow Garnacho to put United ahead in the fist minute.
Hakon Evjen equalized in the 19th minute with a perfectly directed first-time left-foot strike from the edge of the area and Philip Zinckernagel gave the Norwegian champion the lead, finishing off a fast counter after Tyrell Malacia failed to stop him. Malacia made his first senior appearance in 550 days and was substituted at halftime by Diogo Dalot.
Tottenham continued to show inconsistent form as it was held 2-2 at home by struggling Roma. Tottenham lost 3-2 to Galatasaray in the previous round, then beat Manchester City 4-0 away in the Premier League, and gave up a late equalizer against Roma.
Captain Son Heung-min gave Spurs an early lead with a fifth-minute penalty but Evan N’Dicka pulled Roma level in the 20th. Brennan Johnson restored the lead for Tottenham in the first half but the hosts couldn't hang on as Mats Hummels salvaged a draw in stoppage time.
Earlier, Athletic Bilbao cruised past Elfsborg 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday to join Lazio and Frankfurt at the top the 36-team standings,
Lazio missed a chance to remain the only team with a perfect record after five games as it was held 0-0 by Ludogorets at Stadio Olimpico. In Spain, Adama Boiro, Benat Prados and Gorku Guruzeta all scored for Bilbao.
Frankfurt, the 2022 Europa League winner, won 2-1 at Midtjylland.
Like in the new-look Champions League, the top eight teams after the eight-round league phase advance directly to the round of 16 in March, and teams placed from ninth to 24th enter a playoffs in February.
Manchester United hosted Norwegian champion Bodø/Glimt later Thursday with new manager Rúben Amorim taking charge of his first game at Old Trafford.
Also, Tottenham was at home against struggling Roma.
Galatasaray drew 1-1 away at AZ Alkmaar after Victor Osimhen equalized for the Turkish club before halftime with his third goal in his last two Europa League games. Sven Mijnans scored early for Alkmaar, which finished the game with 10 men after substitute Kees Smit was sent off in injury time.
Georges Mikaukadze scored two goals while substitute Corentin Tolisso and Malick Fofana added one each for Lyon to rout host Qarabag 4-1.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv ended a four-game losing run with a 3-1 victory over Besiktas in a game that was played at a neutral venue in Debrecen, Hungary, after Turkish authorities decided not to host match.
That decision followed unrest after Maccabi’s recent Europa League game in Amsterdam, where at least five fans were injured in violent street attacks, after their team’s 5-0 loss to Ajax.
The game was played without fans at the request of Hungarian authorities.
Gavriel Kanichowsky, Dor Perets and Weslley Patati had a goal apiece for the Israeli team, while Rafa Silva netted for Besiktas.
Dynamo Kyiv lost its fifth straight game, this time 2-1 to Viktoria Plzeň. The consolation goal for the Ukrainian team, scored by Vladyslav Kobaiev in stoppage time, was the first for Dynamo in the competition.
Chelsea has been cruising the the third-tier Conference League with the fourth win from four after beating Heidenheim 2-0.
In a matchup of between two teams that were perfect, Christopher Nkunku broke the deadlock in the second half from close range before Mykhailo Mudryk roofed the second from inside the area.
Chelseas midfielder Cesare Casadei received his second yellow card in stoppage time and was sent off.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou gives directions to his players during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Roma at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Tottenham's Brennan Johnson celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Roma at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Roma's Matias Soule reacts after missing a scoring chance during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Roma at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Bodo Glimt's Philip Zinckernagel, center, scores during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and Bodo Glimt, at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Bodo Glimt's Hakon Evjen, center, celebrates scoring during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and Bodo Glimt, at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and Bodo Glimt, at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund scores his side's third goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and Bodo Glimt, at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and Bodo Glimt, at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Dor Peretz scores his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Besiktas and Maccabi Tel Aviv, at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
Maccabi Tel Aviv's players celebrate after Dor Peretz scored his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Besiktas and Maccabi Tel Aviv, at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
Besiktas' Ciro Immobile misses a penalty during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Besiktas and Maccabi Tel Aviv, at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
Lazio's Patric, left, and Ludogorets' Rwan Cruz fight for the ball during an Europa League soccer match between Lazio and Ludogorets, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Lazio's Samuel Grigot, left, and Ludogorets' Son fight for the ball during an Europa League soccer match between Lazio and Ludogorets, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Lazio's Gustav Isaksen, top, and Ludogorets' Aslak Fonn Witry fight for the ball during an Europa League soccer match between Lazio and Ludogorets, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen, centre, heads the ball during the Europa League soccer match between Alkmaar and Galatasaray at AFAS stadium in Alkmaar, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen gestures during the Europa League soccer match between Alkmaar and Galatasaray at AFAS stadium in Alkmaar, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit, centre, is shown with a red card during the Europa League soccer match between Alkmaar and Galatasaray at AFAS stadium in Alkmaar, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Elfsborg's Emil Holten jumps on Athletic Bilbao's goalkeeper Unai Simon during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Elfsborg at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Elfsborg's Besfort Zeneli runs for the ball during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Elfsborg at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Elfsborg's Rami Kaib jumps for the ball against Athletic Bilbao's Gorka Guruzeta during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Elfsborg at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
