A former artistic gymnast produced the biggest upset of the second day at Paris 2024, beating WH2 second seed and 2022 world champion Pilar Jauregui.

Ilaria Renggli, who started playing Para badminton four years ago after an accident left her unable to pursue her gymnastics career, held firm through the twists and turns of the Group C match to assure herself of a quarterfinals place.

The Swiss’ 26-24 19-21 21-13 result saw her Peruvian opponent fall to her second straight defeat in the group and out of contention in the competition.

“It’s crazy, I’ve never won against her. It’s crazy that I won now. I have no words,” said Renggli.

“It was stressful because in the second game, it was one point to her and one point to me (all the way), and then I couldn’t finish it… and in the third, I was nervous and I talked to my coaches and they were like, just play, just enjoy the game, and that was the way.

“She’s such a good player, she won the World Championships 2022, so it shows she’s really strong, she has a lot of power, and also a lot of experience.”

Renggli took up artistic gymnastics when she was five and pursued it for 13 years. Following the accident, she took up Para badminton in 2020, but with the Covid pandemic on, it would be a while before she could play internationally. She treasures the camaraderie in the sport, which, she says, contrasts with the more individual nature of competitive gymnastics.

“Gymnastics was alone but now I can play doubles and singles, so it’s nice,” said the Swiss. “Here we are more like friends, and it’s friendlier than in gymnastics.”

Nevertheless, her training as a gymnast has helped her develop the fitness required to play wheelchair badminton.

“It helps just in the feeling of the body. Strength as well, but it’s a different sport… (with badminton) I think you can never be good enough, so you do a lot of training but you can do much more, and you can get better and better every day. And also, I’m a singles player but I’m also a team player.”

Renggli’s first win at her debut Paralympics came earlier in the day with a 21-9 21-18 result over Chinese Taipei’s I-Chen Yang.

“It’s very nice. My first Paralympics, and my first win. I was a bit nervous in the beginning but it was nice and the venue is full and the crowd is great and my family’s here.

“It’s crazy, it’s amazing. Also with a venue like that, it’s perfect.”

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