Lausanne-Switzerland, April 26, 2012: A journey from east to west across the South American continent bore fruit for Brazil on the opening day of action, Wednesday 25th April, at the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Chile Open in Santiago. In the group qualification stage of the Women’s Singles event the trio of Ligia SILVA, GUI Lin and Jessica YAMADA all overcame host nation opposition in their opening contests.
There were comfortable wins for Ligia SILVA who accounted for Gabriela AQUEVEQUE (11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3) and for GUI Lin who defeated Linda MUOZ (11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4). However, for Jessica YAMADA, the winner of the Women’s Singles title at the ITTF-Latin American Championships earlier this year, it was a more testing time.
She needed the full seven games to beat Natalia CASTELLANO (9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5).
Similarly in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event; Brazilians in the guise of 20 year old Gustavo SOUZA and 18 year old Jeff YAMADA overcame Chilean adversaries. Gustavo SOUZA beat Gerardo PALMA (11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7), whilst Jeff YAMADA overcame Juan Pablo ARIAS (11-5, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4).
Both Gustavo SOUZA and Jeff YAMADA represented Brazil in the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in 2009 and have befitted from competing in competitions which form part of the ITTF Global Junior Programme.
Similarly, Argentina’s Adriel DI SALVO and Fermin TENTI have also benefitted from the ITTF Global Junior Programme, as has Chile’s Gustavo GOMES.
In the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event in Santiago, all three posted wins in their opening matches: all three beat adversaries from the host nation. Fermin TENTI, only 14 years old, accounted for Raimund HOFMANN (11-4, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4); whilst Adriel DI SALVO overcame Gerardo DIAZ (11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8).
Similarly Gustavo GOMES, like Adriel DI SALVO, 18 years old, was in form. He defeated compatriot Bryan FOX (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9).
Fine performances from the young players but for a player at the other end of the age scale it was defeat. Martin PINTO, 64 years old, who attributes table tennis to enabling him to have a full life, when several years ago having been struck by a life threatening illness, was beaten by Chilean colleague, Sergio Luhra (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 14-12, 11-4).
Play in the group stage matches concludes on Thursday 26th April.
In the Men’s Singles event players finishing in first place in each of the 14 groups progress to the main draw; with two “Lucky Loser” places being available, drawn at random from the second places players.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles event, the players finishing in first and second places in each of the eight groups advance to the main draw. Photo by Cristian Larrain
Santiago Santiago Santiago Santiago Santiago Santiago
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