Antonio Rangel Ojeda (27 October 1943 – 22 December 2004) was a Mexican Badminton player that competed in the different categories of singles, doubles and mixed doubles, both nationally and internationally.
His father, Dr Raúl Rangel Romero was a dentist who taught his two children about the importance and benefits of practising sports, while his mother Luz Ojeda Lacroix was a school teacher. Antonio started to play badminton when he was about ten years old, together with his older brother Raúl, at the Centro Deportivo Chapultepec AC.
In 1965, Antonio Rangel extended to three games his match against Erland Kops in the third round of the US Open; in that year, the Danish player - then ranked as the number one of the World - had been beaten by his opponents in only two games.
In 1968, Antonio Rangel graduated from the School of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and, one year later, 13 December 1969, he married Flor Lujan; they had four children: Antonio, Flor, David and Jorge.
Since Antonio Rangel got married, he concentrated all his energy to his family and his professional career and he practically retired from the badminton competitions.
Sports career
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.
Mexican National Championships of Badminton
Mexican National Open
The Mexico City International Tournament was held in the years 1949, 1952, 1958, 1959 and 1961. Since 1964, this competition became known as the National Mexican Open.
Antonio Rangel competed in the Mexican National Open from 1964 to 1968 where he played against players such as Erland Kops, Channarong Ratanaseangsuang, Jamie Paulson, Don Paup and Bill Berry, among others.
Other competitions
1963 - Member of the Mexican team that competed in Indonesia in the "Games of New Emerging Forces", also known as the GANEFO games. 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 - Champion of the IV University of Texas Open in the singles event. 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. 1964 - Teaming up with Carolina Allier, he won the mixed doubles event of the IV University of Texas Open defeating George and Lana Harman of Ponca City, OK. 1965 - Singles champion of the I Torneo Internacional del Perú after defeating the Peruvian champion Miguel Arguelles. 1965 - He and the Danish player Knud Christiansen were runners up in the men's doubles category of the I Torneo Internacional del Perú after losing against the Peruvian couple formed by Percy Levi and Miguel Argüelles. 1966 - Champion of the Torneo Internacional de Badminton de Perú in the singles event. 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.