Antonio Rangel (badminton)

In 1958, when he was just 14 years old, Antonio Rangel became the national champion of Mexico for the first time, competing in the doubles category, together with his brother Raul Rangel. By 1967, he had already won 23 Mexican National Championships. In 1966, he won two more titles in the Mexican Open of Badminton as a singles player and in the doubles category, teaming up with his brother Raul Rangel. • 1963 – Lost the singles final of the III University of Texas Open, also known as the Texas Open, against Tan Joe Hok. • 1963 – Together with his brother Raul Rangel, he lost the men's doubles final of the III University of Texas Open against Tan Joe Hok and J. Izen. • 1964 – With his brother Raul Rangel, he won the men's doubles category of the IV University of Texas Open against George Harman and John Sudbury. • 1966 – Champion with his brother Raul Rangel of the Torneo Internacional de Badminton de Perú in the men's doubles category. == The Gentleman of the Badminton (visit to Peru) ==

In October 1965, Antonio Rangel visited Peru to participate in the 1st International Tournament of Peru by invitation of the Peruvian Federation of Badminton (Federación Peruana de Bádminton) who was interested in promoting the badminton in that country. Antonio Rangel won the men's singles event after defeating the Peruvian Champion Miguel Argüelles 15-2 and 15–9, and Ismael Seminario 15-11 and 15–5. However, playing together with the Danish player Knud Christiansen, Antonio Rangel lost the men's doubles final 15-5 and 15–11 against the Peruvian couple integrated by Percy Levi and Miguel Argüelles. When the competition was finished, Antonio Rangel prolonged his stay in Peru, accepting an invitation from the Peruvian Federation of Badminton, who wanted to promote further the badminton in Peru by organising some exhibition games in the Naval Centre of Peru (el Centro Naval del Perú), the Pacific Expo (la Feria del Pacífico) and some sporting precincts such as the "Club Regatas" of Lima and the "Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposición". == Thomas Cup ==

Antonio Rangel was part of the first Mexican team that competed in the Thomas Cup (American zone) and that was defeated by Japan in February 1964 (0–9). In February 1967, he competed for the second time with the Mexican team that was eliminated by Canada in the semi-finals of the zone; Antonio Rangel lost against the Canadian champion, Wayne Macdonnell: 12–15, 15-6 y 15–8. In men's doubles, he played together with Oscar Luján, against the brothers Ed and Rolf Paterson and lost: 15-5 y 15–6. In 1970, Antonio Rangel participated in the Thomas Cup for the last time as member of the team that was coached by the former Indonesian player Tan Joe Hok (winner of the All England in 1959), this time Mexico lost against the United States (2–7), in San Diego, California. ==References==