More than 180 athletes from 26 countries gathered at the Polideportivo 2 de la Videna as the Peru International Challenge 2026 opened competition in Lima, Peru reported gob.pe.

In the women’s singles round of 32, Olympian Inés Castillo faced fellow Peruvian Ariana Munar. Castillo secured a 21-15, 21-9 victory to advance, setting up a match against Spain’s Ania Setien.

IPD Backing and Lima 2027 Preparation Drive National Entries

IPD President Óscar Fernández Cáceres endorsed the tournament, which runs through October 25, 2026, noting that the event gives domestic competitors crucial home-soil matches against international opponents ahead of the Pan American Games Lima 2027. The Federación Deportiva Peruana de Bádminton (FDPB) organizes the competition under the sanction of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Pan American Badminton Confederation.

Castillo competes as a member of the IPD’s Lima 2027 Program, an initiative that provides financial subsidies for training, competition, and comprehensive preparation. State records show the program currently supports over 80 athletes and paradeportistas to strengthen high-performance readiness for the continental multi-sport event hosted in Peru’s capital.

Global Representation Across Five Standard Modal Categories

The tournament features matches across five standard disciplines: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The international entry list includes athletes representing Canada, the United States, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Croatia, Italy, Guatemala, Germany, India, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Egypt, Colombia, Lithuania, and Japan, alongside the host nation.

While early rounds showcased domestic matchups like Castillo versus Munar, the remaining schedule features international pairings as competitors battle through the brackets.

Inés Castillo Faces Ania Setien at Polideportivo 2 De La Videna

Competition at the Polideportivo 2 de la Videna continues daily through October 25, 2026. Inés Castillo returns to the court to face Spain’s Ania Setien following her win, while remaining singles and doubles draws progress through the preliminary rounds.