World Junior Circuit

Eunice Galvez wins in El Salvador, matches feat of Alberto Miño eight years earlier

29 Aug 2016

Eight years ago, playing in his own country in the highlands of Cuenca, Alberto Miño won the Junior Boys’ Singles title at the 2008 Ecuador Junior and Cadet Open; he is the only player from the South American country ever to have won an ITTF World Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles title.

Now he has a female counterpart, a player from the same city which is home to the now 26 year old.

Eunice Galvez, the Junior Girls' Singles winner (Photo: Gerardo Lopez)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Likewise from Guayaquil, on Sunday 28th August, Eunice Galvez wrote her name into the history books of her country’s sport, by becoming the first player from Ecuador to win an ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles title.

At the 2016 El Salvador Junior and Cadet Open, the no.3 seed, she accounted for Puerto Rico’s Nicole Malave, the no.4 seed at the final hurdle in seven games (11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4) to arrest the title, having one round earlier caused an upset of note.

Beat top seed

Having successfully negotiated the quarter-final stage by beating compatriot Viviam Ruiz (11-5, 11-2, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6), she overcame Peru’s Janina Nieto, the top seed, in six games (7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-2) to reserve her place in the penultimate round.

Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, in the latter stages Nicole Malave had beaten the host nation’s Emme Arias, the no.5 seed by the narrowest of seven game margins (9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9), prior to becoming embroiled in yet another full distance encounter.

She overcame Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero, the no.2 seed (11-5, 14-12, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7) to reach the title deciding contest.

Success for Nicole Malave

Disappointment for Nicole Malave but not in the counterpart Cadet Girls’ Singles event where, as in the Junior Girls’ Singles competition, she beat Lucia Cordero, only this time it was in the final and less dramatic.

Nicole Malave won in four games (11-6, 14-12, 10-12, 11-7), having at the semi-final stage defeated El Salvador’s Keren Constanza (11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7). In the counterpart semi-final, Lucia Cordero had overcome Viviam Ruiz (9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4).

Titles for visitors, in the Hopes Girls’ Singles event it was success for the host nation. An all El Salvador final saw Sara Romero beat Cristina Machado to secure the top prize.

Tunisia awaits

Matters concluded in El Salvador; the next stop on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit is Hammamet; the Sopal 2016 Tunisia Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 31st August.

World Junior Circuit El Salvador Junior and Cadet Open Eunice Galvez Nicole Malave

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