San Jose-Costa Rica, May 29, 2012: Brazilian Duo, Brazil’s Thiago MONTEIRO and Caroline KUMAHARA, players from different generations, won the respective Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the ITTF-Latin American Cup in San Jose, Costa Rica on Sunday 27th May 2012.
Absent from the international scene for much of the past year owing to injury, 30 year old Thiago MONTEIRO showed a return to full fitness. He beat Argentina’s Gaston ALTO in the semi-finals and LIU Song, also from Argentina, in the final.
Both were formidable adversaries. LIU Song, now officially a veteran, having just celebrated his 40th birthday, is a previous Latin American champion; whilst 26 year old Gaston ALTO was the sensation of the tournament. On the first day of play he beat the Dominican Republic’s LIN Ju, the top seed and a player who has already booked his place in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Furthermore LIN Ju was the winner of the Men’s Singles title at the Latin American Championships in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year in March.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Singles final signalled a new era for table tennis in the Latin American continent, with 16 year old Caroline KUMAHARA beating 18 year Carelyn CORERO of Puerto Rico in the final.
Both are players who have reaped benefits from competing in events organised by the International Table Tennis Federation’s Global Junior Programme; both competed in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, and both have won titles of the ITTF Junior Circuit in 2012.
Caroline KUMAHARA won in Argentina, Carelyn CORDERO succeeded in Malta; furthermore, Caroline KUMAHARA has qualified for both the Women’s Singles and the Women’s Team events at the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games.
Thiago MONTEIRO now qualifies to compete in the LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup to be held in Liverpool, England from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2012; whilst one week earlier, from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September, Caroline KUMAHARA will play in the VOLKSWAGEN Women’s World Cup in Huangshi, China.
Men’s Singles
Semi-Final: Thiago MONTEIRO (BRA) bt Gaston ALTO (ARG) 11-4, 11-6, 14-12, 11-9
Semi-Final: LIU Song (ARG) bt Cazuo MATSUMOTO (BRA) 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10
Final: Thiago MONTEIRO (BRA) bt LIU Song (ARG) 11-9, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11
Women’s Singles
Semi-Final: Carelyn CORDERO (PUR) bt Fabiola RAMOS (VEN) 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8
Semi-Final: Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA) bt Paula MEDINA (COL) 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5
Final: Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA) bt Carelyn CORDERO (PUR) 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7
PHOTO: ADOLFO SANCHEZ
Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo Brazilian Duo
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