# Kevin Cordón

Kevin Haroldo Cordón Buezo (born 28 November 1986) is a Guatemalan badminton player. He won two men's singles titles at the Pan American Games, four titles at the Pan Am Championships (3 in singles and 1 in doubles), and six titles at the Central American and Caribbean Games (4 in singles and 2 in doubles). He is a five-time Olympian for Guatemala participating at the 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and the 2024 Olympic Games.

## Career

Born in La Unión, Zacapa, Cordón was named after former England international footballer Kevin Keegan, of whom his father was a fan. In spite of badminton not being popular in Guatemala during his childhood, he became a badminton player as he thought it would give him a better chance of one day becoming an Olympian than if he played a different sport being the first member of his family to practice the sport. He began playing at the age of 11 and by 1998 he was a part of the Zacapa Department's youth team.
After winning the silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games, Cordón qualified to the 2008 Olympic Games and was selected as the flag bearer of his nation's Olympic team. At the Beijing Games, he lost against the #3 seeded player, Bao Chunlai from China.
At the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, he won three gold medals in the singles, doubles, and team events, being the Guatemalan athlete with the most medals won during the games.
Cordón then competed at the 2011 BWF World Championships in London, where he reached the quarterfinals after beating fifth-seeded Chen Long from China, Henri Hurskainen from Sweden and Pablo Abian from Spain to face the tournament's top-seeded Lee Chong Wei. There he lost to the Malaysian player in two straight sets.
Cordón was selected as the flag bearer for the Guatemalan team at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Pan American Games, and was also the top seeded player in the men's singles event. On 20 October 2011, he won his first Pan-American Games gold medal by beating Cuban competitor Osleni Guerrero in the final. Cordón did not lose one set in the tournament. In 2015, he successfully defended his men's singles Pan Am Games title at the Atos Markham Pan Am Centre in Toronto at the Pan American Games beating Canadian Andrew D'Souza 21–13, 21–14 in the final.
Cordón qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics singles competition. He won both of his group matches, beating 15th seed Englishman Rajiv Ouseph and Swedish player Henri Hurskainen in the process, thus winning a place in the round of 16. He lost his round of 16 match versus Sho Sasaki of Japan. He qualified again to the 2016 Summer Olympics, but had to withdraw due to injury after finishing the first match, losing a tough 3-setter against Adrian Dziolko of Poland.
Cordón qualified again for the 2020 Summer Olympics. He won both of his group matches, defeating Mexican Lino Munoz and the 8th-seeded Ng Ka Long, thus winning a place in the round of 16. He defeated Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time ever. In the quarter-finals, he defeated Korean Heo Kwang-hee 21–13 and 21–18 to become the first Central American to advance to the Olympic badminton semi-finals. He lost the semi-final to eventual gold medalist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and the bronze medal match to Indonesian Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, both in straight games.
Kevin Cordón twice won the continental Pan Am Badminton Championships in the men's singles event in 2009 and 2012 and also once the men's doubles Pan Am badminton event in 2009 with compatriot Rodolfo Ramirez.
Already as a junior player in 2004, he won the continental Pan Am Junior Badminton Championships boys' singles title in the U-19 category.
On 3 July 2024, he and female sport shooter Waleska Soto were chosen by the Guatemalan Olympic Committee to be the flag bearers in the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. Playing in his fifth Olympics, he broke the Olympic record for a badminton player, along with Pablo Abián. However, after losing his first group match, he withdrew from the tournament due to injury.

## Achievements
### Pan American Games

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2007 | Riocentro Sports Complex, Pavilion 4B, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Mike Beres | 21–13, 11–21, 10–21 | Silver |
| 2011 | Multipurpose Gymnasium, Guadalajara, Mexico | Osleni Guerrero | 23–21, 21–19 | Gold |
| 2015 | Atos Markham Pan Am Centre, Toronto, Canada | Andrew D'Souza | 21–13, 21–14 | Gold |
| 2019 | Polideportivo 3, Lima, Peru | Brian Yang | 21–15, 13–21, 3–13 retired | Bronze |
| 2023 | Olympic Training Center, Santiago, Chile | Brian Yang | 18–21, 6–21 | Silver |

### Pan Am Championships

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2008 | Club de Regatas, Lima, Peru | David Snider | 21–23, 21–6, 19–21 | Bronze |
| 2009 | Coliseo Olímpico de la Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico | Stephan Wojcikiewicz | 21–11, 21–19 | Gold |
| 2012 | Manuel Bonilla Stadium, Lima, Peru | Osleni Guerrero | 23–21, 21–19 | Gold |
| 2018 | Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium, Guatemala City, Guatemala | Jason Ho-Shue | 14–21, 17–21 | Bronze |
| 2019 | Gimnasio Olímpico, Aguascalientes, Mexico | Osleni Guerrero | 11–21, 20–22 | Silver |
| 2021 | Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Guatemala City, Guatemala | Jason Ho-Shue | 17–21, 18–21 | Bronze |
| 2022 | Palacio de los Deportes Carlos "El Famoso" Hernández, San Salvador, El Salvador | Brian Yang | 21–17, 21–14 | Gold |
| 2023 | G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, Kingston, Jamaica | Uriel Canjura | 22–20, 12–21, 14–21 | Bronze |
| 2024 | Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium, Guatemala City, Guatemala | Uriel Canjura | 14–21, 21–17, 21–13 | Gold |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2008 | Club de Regatas, Lima, Peru | Rodolfo Ramírez | Toby Ng William Milroy | 16–21, 9–21 | Silver |
| 2009 | Coliseo Olímpico de la Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico | Rodolfo Ramírez | Antonio de Vinatea Martín del Valle | 21–18, 17–21, 23–21 | Gold |
| 2014 | Markham Pan Am Centre, Markham, Canada | Aníbal Marroquín | Phillip Chew Sattawat Pongnairat | 13–21, 7–21 | Bronze |

### Central American and Caribbean Games

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2006 | Pavilion of Parque del Este, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Ilian Perez | | Gold |
| 2010 | Raymond Dalmau Coliseum, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | Pedro Yang | 21–15, 21–12 | Gold |
| 2014 | Omega Complex, Veracruz, Mexico | Osleni Guerrero | 20–22, 21–13, 24–22 | Gold |
| 2018 | Coliseo Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia | Osleni Guerrero | 21–16, 14–21, 25–23 | Gold |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2006 | Pavilion of Parque del Este, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Rodolfo Ramírez | Lazaro Jerez Ilian Perez | 21–12, 13–21, 15–21 | Bronze |
| 2010 | Raymond Dalmau Coliseum, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | Rodolfo Ramírez | Andrés López Lino Muñoz | 18–21, 21–17, 21–6 | Gold |
| 2014 | Omega Complex, Veracruz, Mexico | Aníbal Marroquín | Rodolfo Ramírez Jonathan Solís | 22–20, 22–20 | Gold |

### BWF International Challenge/Series (44 titles, 20 runners-up)

Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2007 | Bulgarian International | Jan Fröhlich | 13–21, 7–17 retired | Runner-up |
| 2007 | Cyprus International | Chetan Anand | 8–21, 24–26 | Runner-up |
| 2008 | Peru International | Andrés Corpancho | 21–14, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2008 | Miami PanAm International | Christian Lind Thomsen | 21–18, 21–10 | Winner |
| 2008 | Brazil International | Andrés Corpancho | 21–15, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2008 | Puerto Rico International | Kaveh Mehrabi | 21–13, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2009 | Giraldilla International | Ari Trisnanto | 21–19, 14–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2009 | Puerto Rico International | Pedro Martins | 18–21, 21–13, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2009 | Mexican International | Charles Pyne | 21–11, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2009 | Santo Domingo Open | Rodolfo Ramírez | 21–17, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2009 | Guatemala International | Rodolfo Ramírez | 21–16, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2010 | Suriname International | Abdul Aditya | 23–21, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2010 | Miami PanAm International | Hock Lai Lee | 13–21, 21–14, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2010 | Santo Domingo Open | Pedro Martins | 10–21, 13–21 | Runner-up |
| 2010 | Guatemala International | Rodolfo Ramírez | 21–14, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2010 | Brazil International | Hock Lai Lee | 13–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2011 | Peru International | Michael Lahnsteiner | 23–21, 6–21, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2011 | Slovenian International | Hsu Jen-hao | 14–21, 21–19, 10–21 | Runner-up |
| 2012 | Guatemala International | Howard Shu | Walkover | Winner |
| 2012 | Brazil International | Niluka Karunaratne | 17–21, 22–20, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2014 | Mercosul International | Rodolfo Ramírez | 21–14, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2014 | Argentina International | Daniel Paiola | 21–12, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2014 | Chile International | Rodolfo Ramírez | 9–11, 11–9, 11–2, 11–6 | Winner |
| 2014 | Guatemala International | Pablo Abián | 11–4, 8–11, 5–11, 10–11 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Peru International Series | Daniel Paiola | 21–16, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2015 | Mercosul International | Marius Myhre | 21–14, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2015 | Mauritius International | Luka Wraber | 21–12, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2015 | Guatemala International | Ygor Coelho | 22–20, 21–11 | Winner |
| 2015 | Brazil International | Ygor Coelho | 18–21, 22–20, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Puerto Rico International | Howard Shu | 21–17, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2016 | Guatemala International | Osleni Guerrero | Walkover | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Yonex / K&D Graphics International | Kento Momota | 7–21, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Carebaco International | Karan Rajan Rajarajan | 21–19, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2017 | Internacional Mexicano | Aníbal Marroquín | 21–12, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2017 | Guatemala International | Leodannis Martínez | 21–17, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2018 | Peru International | Osleni Guerrero | 22–20, 14–21, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2018 | International Mexicano | Maxime Moreels | 21–19, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2018 | Guatemala International | Timothy Lam | 21–12, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2018 | Suriname International | Elias Bracke | 21–13, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2019 | Jamaica International | Kodai Naraoka | 17–21, 8–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Peru International | Brian Yang | 21–15, 13–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | International Mexicano | Lino Muñoz | 21–16, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2019 | Guatemala International | Lino Muñoz | 21–6, 11–3 retired | Winner |
| 2019 | Brazil International | Lino Muñoz | 21–19, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2019 | Santo Domingo Open | Brian Yang | 8–21, 4–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Suriname International | Brian Yang | Walkover | Runner-up |
| 2021 | Guatemala International | Victor Lai | 21–13, 21–11 | Winner |
| 2022 | Mexican International | Jonathan Matias | 21–10, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2022 | El Salvador International | Uriel Canjura | 18–21, 23–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Brazil International | Ygor Coelho | 22–20, 14–21, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2023 | Guatemala International | Ygor Coelho | 21–17, 11–21, 21–23 | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Peru Challenge | Takuma Kawamoto | 12–21, 21–16, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Guatemala International | Giovanni Toti | 21–8, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2023 | Mexican International | Aria Dinata | 21–15, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2023 | El Salvador International | Ygor Coelho | 21–17, 15–21, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2025 | Giraldilla International | Yeison del Cid | 21–15, 22–24, 18–21 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2009 | Peru International | Rodolfo Ramírez | José Vicente Martínez Javier Tur | 16–21, 8–2 retired | Winner |
| 2009 | Puerto Rico International | Rodolfo Ramírez | Phillip Chew Halim Haryanto | 21–19, 13–21, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2009 | Santo Domingo Open | Rodolfo Ramírez | Phillip Chew Halim Haryanto | 21–23, 21–15, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2009 | Guatemala International | Rodolfo Ramírez | Mathew Fogarthy David Neuman | 21–16, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2010 | Suriname International | Rodolfo Ramírez | Virgil Soeroredjo Mitchel Wongsodikromo | 21–14, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2010 | Santo Domingo Open | Rodolfo Ramírez | Adrian Liu Derrick Ng | 21–18, 24–22 | Winner |
| 2010 | Guatemala International | Rodolfo Ramírez | Adrian Liu Derrick Ng | 21–23, 20–22 | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Mercosul International | Aníbal Marroquín | Rodolfo Ramírez Jonathan Solís | 21–15, 13–21, 13–21 | Runner-up |
    BWF International Challenge tournament
    BWF International Series tournament
    BWF Future Series tournament

## Record against selected opponents

Includes results against CACSO Games finalists, Pan Am Games finalists, Pan Am Championships finalists, Super Series finalists, World Championship semifinalists, Olympic quarter-finalists, and all Olympic opponents.
* Ygor Coelho 4–1
* Mike Beres 0–1
* Andrew D'Souza 1–0
* Jason Ho-Shue 2–2
* Brian Yang 1–5
* Stephan Wojcikiewicz 3–0
* Bao Chunlai 0–1
* Chen Long 1–0
* Osleni Guerrero 10–5
* Ilian Perez 0–1
* Jan Fröhlich 1–3
* Peter Gade 0–1
* Joachim Persson 1–1
* Viktor Axelsen 0–1
* Rajiv Ouseph 1–1
* Marc Zwiebler 0–2
* Pedro Yang 2–0
* Ng Ka Long 1–0
* Ajay Jayaram 0–2
* Lakshya Sen 0–2
* Parupalli Kashyap 0–1
* Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 0–1
* Taufik Hidayat 0–1
* Kento Momota 0–1
* Sho Sasaki 0–2
* Lee Chong Wei 0–2
* Lino Muñoz 14–1
* Mark Caljouw 1–1
* Adrian Dziółko 2–1
* Heo Kwang-hee 1–0
* Lee Hyun-il 0–1
* Pablo Abián 2–7
* Niluka Karunaratne 2–1
* Henri Hurskainen 2–2
* Boonsak Ponsana 0–1
* Howard Shu 9–0
* Nguyễn Tiến Minh 1–0