2 Continental Championsh​ips 4 Gold Medals

Lausanne, April 22, 2013: Two Continental Championships, four gold medals and four qualification positions at the upcoming ITTF World Cups later this year.

This is what occurred over the weekend at the ITTF North American and ITTF Latin American Cups, which were held concurrently in Westchester, USA and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic respectively on 19-21 April 2013.

At the ITTF North American Cup, Canada’s André Ho and the host nation’s Lily Zhang were crowned the Champions in two enthralling finals in the state of New York.

André Ho outmuscled Timothy Wang in six hard fought games in the men’s final 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7, and stated after the ceremony: “This was a very, very tough match. I think I played better than my semi-final match. I knew I was able to step up and I was able to do it.”

Lily Zhang had to overcome the 2011 and 2012 Champion Ariel Hsing to clinch her first major title. An ecstatic Zhang stated after winning gold: “I definitely feel good, and I played well. I tried to calm myself down and tried not to think ahead, just be in the present.” This strategy worked well, as Zhang ran out a winner 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9.

Meanwhile, 3,800 km south in Santo Domingo, Brazilian Thiago Monteiro and Dominican Republic’s Wu Xue stood at the top of the podium at the ITTF Latin American Cup.

At the final hurdle, Thiago Monteiro, the no.4 seed, accounted for the Dominican Republic’s Lin Ju, the no.3 seed 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10; whilst Wu Xue, the no.1 seed, defeated Mexico’s Yadira Silva, the no.4 seed 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 to become the 2013 Latin American Cup Champion.

In addition to their gold medals and prize money, the four champions Ho, Zhang, Monteiro and Xue all secured their priceless qualification into the 2013 ITTF World Cups and will represent their continents at the:

• STARTS Women’s World Cup: Kobe, Japan 21-23 September 2013

• LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup: Verviers, Belgium 25-27 October 2013. —- ITTF