Buenos Aires, March 21, 2015: Major contributors to Brazil’s victory in the Men’s & Women’s Team events on 17 March, Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) and GUI Lin (BRA) claimed the Men’s & Women’s Single title to make it to the top of the podium once again at the 2015 ITTF-Latin America Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 21 March 2015.
In the Men’s Singles finals match, Youth Olympic bronze medalist Hugo CALDERANO survived a close call to overcome his colleague Cazuo MATSUMOTO 4-3 (14-16, 11-1, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 12-14, 11-6) to defend his title.
On the eventful victory, the 18-year-old shared “I was leading three-one but we both know each other very well, so he knew how to put me in trouble; he became more aggressive from the fifth game onwards, it was vital I kept calm. It’s very important to trust in your own game, that kept me going in the match.”
“Both of us practise in Europe, we have improved a great deal, as have others. The challenge we have against players from Europe and Asia is making us better. I really like to play here in Argentina, it was here I played my first ever international tournament and I always enjoy it here; now it’s time to celebrate and think of China and then Toronto, those are my next goals.”
In the Women’s Singles finals, 21-year-old GUI Lin (BRA) prevailed to take the crown against Mexico’s Yadira SILVA in a tension packed 7-games finals (8-11, 8-11, 15-13, 13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8).
After her victory, the Brazilian reflected “A key factor was to stay mentally strong as I was trailing several times. I know I can play well, I’ve done it in recent days, I just need to hold my focus through these moments and keep playing according to my tactics. It was the main reason for the win and the title”
“This is a very motivating accomplishment for me!” added Gui Lin. “Being the new Latin American champion is a great joy and it will help me in the big tournaments to come.”
As with the case of the Women’s Singles final match, it was success for GUI in the Women’s Doubles category. Together with her experienced compatriot Ligia SILVA, GUI had a close encounter with the Puerto Rican sister, Adriana DIAZ & Melanie DIAZ, to win 3-2 (9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9), and take home the fifth crown for Brazil.
It was Mexico & Chile who prevailed in the Mixed Doubles & Men’s Doubles gold medal matches respectively, preventing an all Brazilian sweep of all seven medals on offer.
The Mexican duo of Marcos MADRID & Yadira SILVA had a taste of sweet revenge at the Mixed Doubles finals against the Puerto Rican pair of Brian AFANADOR & Adriana DIAZ, who defeated them at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games last November. This time in Buenos Aires, the Mexicans emerged victorious to beat the second seeded Puerto Ricans 3-1 (6-11,11-5, 11-7, 11-8).
Victory in the Mixed Doubles, MADRID & his partner Salvador URIBE (MEX) were unsuccessful in the Men’s Doubles final hurdle against Chile’s Manuel MOYA & Alejandro RODRIGUEZ. The Chilean pair upset the Mexicans 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7).
With the conclusion of the 2015 ITTF-Latin America Championships, all attention now turn to the qualification events for the Pan American Games that begins 22 March 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2015 ITTF-Latin America Championships winners:
• Men’s Team: Brazil
• Women’s Team: Brazil
• Mixed Doubles: Marcos MADRID / Yadira SILVA (MEX)
• Men’s Doubles: Manuel MOYA / Alejandro RODRIGUEZ (CHI)
• Women’s Doubles: GUI Lin / Ligia SILVA (BRA)
• Men’s Singles: Hugo CALDERANO (BRA)
• Women’s Singles: GUI Lin (BRA). —- ITTF
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.