Osleni Guerrero Velazco

Osleni Guerrero Velazco. He is a Cuban badminton player considered a Glory of Sport in the country. Among the most relevant results achieved in his sports career are the silver medal in singles at the Guadalajara Pan American Games in 2011 and the bronze medal four years later at the Toronto event; first place in mixed doubles and second place in singles at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games and first place in singles at the Pan American Badminton Championship 2013 and 2014.

He was born in Havana, Cuba; from a young age he was inclined toward sports. While in the third grade at Rafael Carini elementary school, he was discovered by his first sports coach Luis Alberto Lara; having the opportunity to train with athletes from higher categories and that helped him develop.

He has a height of 1.89 m and weighs 83 kg. He is married to Mayde and on December 6, 2012 he became a father to a girl, whom they named Elianis.

Child-youth champion at age 9, in the under-11 category at the Pan American tournament held in Cuba in 1988. Medalist in the Giraldillas tournaments held in Cuba, including the one in 2005, where at just 15 years old, he was the most outstanding player of this tournament of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation, after winning five titles in total: three in the under-17 category (singles, doubles and mixed) and two in the under-19 (individual and team)[1]. 2007. Fifth place at the Rio de Janeiro Pan American Games 2007. In 2007 he proclaimed himself sub-19 Pan American champion in Guadalajara, Mexico.

On July 24, 2011 he proclaimed himself champion of the IV ALBA Sports Games, held at the Rafael Romero Coliseum in the city of Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela.

On October 19, 2011 he wins the silver medal at the Guadalajara Pan American Games, Mexico.

On September 4, 2012 he is selected as the most outstanding at the Tournament of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) by obtaining five titles in total: in the under-17 category (singles, doubles and mixed) and two in the under-19 (individual and team)[2]. He participates in the Gustavo Prata International Tournament held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, being eliminated on September 28, 2012 in the quarterfinals.

Due to his qualities as an athlete, he was awarded a scholarship based in Peru by the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation. He participates in the XVII Pan American Badminton Championship, where he obtains the silver medal and accumulates 4,250 units for the world ranking.

In 2013 he participates in the XIV International Giraldilla Badminton Tournament, in the Kid Chocolate Multipurpose Hall where he retains the men's gold medal by defeating in straight sets (21-19, 21-3) Czech Jan Frohlich. With this victory he added 1,700 points to the world ranking in this specialty, an important step to achieve his qualification for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.

In April 2013 he participates in the XVIII International Open Peru Badminton tournament, held at the Regatas de Lima club facilities in Peru, advancing to the quarterfinals after defeating his rivals from Peru and Mexico, and on April 14, 2013 he obtained the gold medal for the first time in that tournament by defeating Israeli Misha Zilberman in a rematch, in three sets.

From July 22, 2013 he participated in a training camp in Guangdong, China, accompanied by his coach Roberto Mollinedo, in preparation for the XX World Badminton Championship in that country and on May 5 he made his world debut facing Spaniard Pablo Abian who defeated him after 36 minutes of action, with scores of 14-21 and 21-23; despite his resistance in the second set, showing progress in a sport where Asians and a few other individuals hold the dominance.

Despite his youth he has risen rapidly, placing himself from August 15, 2013 at position 88 in the world, fourth in the American Continent and first in the singles draw of the II International Badminton Tournament being held in Maracay, Venezuela[9]. On August 25 he proclaimed himself champion of said tournament.

On September 5 he achieved his first success at the International Badminton Tournament of Guatemala, Series category, by dominating Mexico's Mauricio Casillas in two sets (21-16, 21-9)[10]. On September 8, 2013 he faces the host Rodolfo Ramírez who defeated him in two sets in singles, so he reached the silver medal in this tournament.

With the results obtained in the Guatemala tournament he improved another 11 positions in the world ranking, a reflection of positive results in stable participation in international play, so he appears at 67 in the world badminton ranking, according to the latest update by the World Federation, with a total of 2,130 points.

On October 3 he makes his debut in the XXVIII International Badminton Tournament in Sao Paulo, Challenge category, held in Brazil, due to his condition as leader of Latin America and second in the continent, deserving the condition of third seed by registration ranking, 67 in the world, only surpassed by American Sattawat Pongnairat (52) and Israel's Misha Zilberman (57). Osleni defeats local Leonardo Marcello Ferreira in the first round with scores of 21-7 and 21-9, and advances to the second stage. On October 4 he obtains two victories advancing to the semifinals, on October 5 Guerrero defeats American Sattawat Pongnairat 2-1, securing the silver medal in the semifinals, which was obtained in the final competition by being defeated by Chih Hsun Yang, an achievement that gives him 3,400 points for the world ranking, completing his performance at the Brazilian tournament with the bronze medal in men's doubles, the specialty in which he had local Felipe Toledo as his partner.

In October of this year with the latest update of the world list the International Badminton Federation places him at position 65 in the world ranking, the best representative of this sport in Latin America. In his rise the silver medal achieved in the individual test of the International Tournament concluded in Sao Paulo last October 6 was very important, where he accumulated 3,400 units.

On October 24 he makes his debut with victory at the XVIII Pan American Badminton Championship, held in Santo Domingo, and on Sunday October 27 he proclaimed himself champion of said event, defeating American Sattawat Pongniarat, whom he has already defeated four times in the events they have faced.

On October 31 he wins the 2013 Santo Domingo Open Tournament, defeating American Howard Shu, at the Palace of Sports in the Dominican capital, and places himself at 60 in the world ranking, surpassing the American in just 28 minutes of play, with scores of 21-16 and 21-6.

On November 7 he places at position 56 and came even closer to the leader of continental badminton, Sattawat Pongnairat from the United States, who is at 50 in the world ranking. Osleni accumulated 24,680 points in 10 tournaments, while the American has 26,820.4890 in 16.

He participates in the VII Surinam Badminton Open where he makes his debut on November 13. Before the tournament began in Paramaribo, the capital, an International Clinic was held led by Spanish coach Arturo Ruiz to which the eight best players of the continent were invited, four of each gender, including the Cuban runner-up of the Guadalajara Pan American Games 2011. In the first round he defeated Guyanese Nicholas Ali. On November 14 he obtains his second victory against local Soren Opti[24]. On November 15 he assured maintaining the silver by achieving two victories against Argentine Fernando Díaz (7) and Italian Giovanni Greco in the semifinals. On Saturday November 16 he competed for the gold against Czech Jan Frohlich, proclaiming himself champion of this important international tournament, which confirms him as the best representative of the year in Latin America, this victory will allow him to continue decreasing his position in the world ranking. On Thursday November 14 he was positioned at number 53, still without taking into account the Surinam victory.

From November 21 to 24 he participates in his last competition this year, at the IV Mexico Badminton Open, based in the city of Guadalajara, where he debuted with victory over Mexican Lino Muñoz with scores of 20-22, 21-17 and 22-20 to advance to the quarterfinals. He wins in the final against Brazilian Daniel Paiola and achieves his seventh victory, fourth consecutively, with scores of 21-16 and 21-17.

He participates in the XV International Badminton Giraldilla Tournament, based at the Coliseum of the Sports City in Havana, where on March 27 he advances to the second round by achieving success against Guatemalan Humblers Heymard (174) with scores of 21-18 and 21-11. On March 29 he was surpassed in the men's singles semifinal by American Bjorn Seguin. On March 30 together with Taimara Oropeza he reached gold in mixed doubles by defeating Peruvians Andrés Corpancho and Luz María Zarnoza in the mode that closed this event.

On April 13 he retained the title at the Peru Open Tournament, held in Lima, by defeating in two sets in the final Asian-American Hock Lai Lee, currently occupying the 55th place in the world ranking.

He qualified for the World Badminton Championship based in Copenhagen, Denmark, to be held from August 25-31 of this year, securing the 36th position thanks to his current position, 55 in the world ranking. In June of this year according to an announcement by the International Federation of the discipline he rose three positions in the world ranking, so he moved to the 54th position in the universal standings, with 26,680 points.

He participated in the III International Badminton Tournament based in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, where he advanced to the quarterfinals and on June 22 conquered the title, defeating in the final Brazilian Daniel Paiola, with scores of 21-13 and 21-8, in just 22 minutes of play.

He competed in the Badminton Grand Prix, which took place in August, based in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, where he debuted with victory against American RyanChew and finally obtained the bronze medal, achieving a rise to the 46th position in the world ranking with 29,330 points in 11 tournaments played.

Furthermore, in August of this year he attended the World Badminton Championship based in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he was surpassed in his debut by Japanese Sho Sasaki, pre-seeded number 15 of this difficult tournament, so he could not improve his performance from the previous edition.

He participated in the XIX Pan American Badminton Championship based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, where in his first outing on October 16 he easily defeated Jamaican Matthew Lee. On October 17 he defeated Peruvian Mario Cuba 21-10 and 21-13 in 20 minutes in the third round. He finally obtained the gold medal against American Bjorn Seguin.

As part of his preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games of Veracruz he competes in the XXIX International Badminton Cup organized in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he debuted with victory. After defeating Frenchman Lucas Claerbout on October 31 he advanced to the quarterfinals in this tournament that distributes three thousand 500 points for the world ranking. On November 2 in the final he was surpassed by experienced Swede Henri Hurskainen, obtaining the silver medal and 3,400 points.

At the XXII Central American and Caribbean Games Veracruz 2014 held in Mexico in November of this year, he lost in singles 1-2 (22-20, 13-21, 22-24) to Guatemalan Kevin Gordon, so he obtained the silver medal. He secured the gold in mixed doubles partnering with Tahimara Oropesa and the bronze for mixed teams.

2015

On March 29 of this year he conquered the title again at the International Badminton Tournament Giraldilla, held at the Coliseum of the Sports City in Havana, where he defeated in the final American Howard Shu, whom he defeated in two sets with scores of 21-15 and 21-8, in just 35 minutes of play.

He participated in the XVII Pan American Games of Toronto 2015, Canada, where on July 15 he was surprisingly surpassed by the local practically unknown Andrew D´Souza, who achieved victory in three sets 13-21, 21-14 and 21-13. In this way, the runner-up from Guadalajara '11 remained with bronze and lost the opportunity to compete for the title as four years earlier against Guatemalan Kevin Cordon.

On August 25 he fell in his debut at the World Badminton Championship based in Copenhagen, Denmark, against Japanese Sho Sasaki, pre-seeded number 15 of the difficult tournament, with scores of 13-21 and 15-21.

On September 13 at the VI International Badminton Tournament of Mexico, which took place at the Cancún beach resort he was defeated by Spaniard Ernesto Velázquez, reaching the silver medal. Nevertheless he achieved 2,130 points for the international series category of this competition.

On November 21 he defended his title at the IX International Badminton Tournament of Surinam, defeating in the final American Howard Shu, in two sets. It was the seventh time he defeated Shu in official events, without him ever being able to defeat him. This title brings Osleni 2,500 to the world ranking, very important in his Olympic aspirations.