by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Success for neighbours; there was also success for the host nation. In the Women’s Singles event, gold and silver finished in the hands of Colombia; Paula Medina overcame Angie Umbacia to secure the Women’s Singles crown.
The top prize for Paula Medina but at the latter stages it was hard fought success. She needed six games to beat Angie Umbacia (11-8, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5), having one round earlier been stretched to the very limit by Peru’s Angela Mori (11-8, 11-4, 4-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10).
In the counterpart semi-final, Angie Umbacia had accounted for Uruguay’s Maria Pia Lorenzotti (11-6, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7).
Gold on the concluding day for Paula Medina; earlier in the week there had been more gold. She joined forces with Maria Perdomo, Angie Umbacia and Luisa Zuluaga to win the Women’s Team title; whilst, in addition, partnering Luisa Zuluaga to Women’s Doubles success.
Organised on a group basis, in the Women’s Team event, the Colombians finished ahead of Chile (Judith Morales, Daniela Ortega, Paulina Vega, Katherine Low) with Peru (Angela Mori, Gabriela Soto, Janina Nieto, Andrea Guzman) and Argentina (Ana Codina, Camila Arguelles, Candela Molero and Camila Kaizoji) being the bronze medallist.
Impressive in the Women’s Team competition; the Colombians were equally impressive in the Women’s Doubles event.
An all-Colombian final saw Paula Medina and Luisa Zuluaga overcome Angie Umbacia and Maria Perdomo in three straight games (12-10, 11-4, 11-8).
Second place in the Women’s Team event for Chile, in the counterpart Men’s Team competition, it was top spot with Felipe Olivares remaining unbeaten as alongside Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid the title was claimed.
In the latter stages a three-two was posted against Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre, Alejandro Torres and Luis Ibañez at the semi-final stage prior to a three-one victory margin being the outcome in opposition to the Argentine trio of Gaston Alto, Horacio Cifuentes and Pablo Tabachnik.
Silver for Gaston Alto and Pablo Tabachnik; later in the proceedings it was to be gold. They won the Men’s Doubles title beating Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid in a tension packed final decided by the very narrowest of margins (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10).
The top step of the podium for Pablo Tabachnik in the Men’s Doubles event; it was the same in the Mixed Doubles competition; he partnered Ana Codina to success. At the final hurdle the pair accounted for colleagues Horacio Cifuentes and Candela Molero (11-7, 11-7, 13-11).
South American Championships:Full results and roll of honour