by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

At the semi-final stage, she beat Maria Garrone in four games (11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7), prior to securing the title at the hands of Nayla Kueli, like Maria Garrone from Argentina, by a similar margin (12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6).

The success against Nayla Kueli possessed an air of revenge; one day earlier she had been beaten by the Argentine in a four games contest (11-3, 11-7, 13-15, 11-7).

“I didn’t think I’d win, I lost to Nayla in the groups; this is my first junior tournament. I felt that I was improving in every match. I feel very happy”, Tamara Monsalve

Currently no World ranking, Tamara Monsalve was one of two players to emerge as an unexpected gold medallist. Likewise, in Men’s Singles Class 9, Manuel Echaveguren, a player with no global status emerged unbeaten and thus in top spot.

He finished ahead of colleagues Sebastian Diaz and Valentin Letelier with Peru’s Christian Veliz in fourth place. Listed at no.34 on the current Men’s Class 9 World Rankings, Valentin Letelier commenced matters as the top seed.

Surprise winners but in the remaining events, it was success for the favourites.

In events organised on a group basis; in Women’s Singles Class 6-10, Ailyn Espinoza, like Tamara Monsalve from Chile, secured first place finishing ahead of Argentina’s Juliana Frutos and Brazil’s Melanie Dos Santos. Also from Argentina, Candela Basma ended matters in fourth position.

Success for Chile in an all-play-all event, it was the same in Men’s Singles Class 10. Alvaro Vega emerged unbeaten in top spot followed by Brazil’s Lucas Dos Santos, Colombia’s Gustavo Calvache and the host nation’s Felipe Saul.

Difficult times for Argentina in Men’s Singles Class 10, not in Men’s Singles Class 7; also organised on the group formula Aleksy Kaniuka finished ahead of compatriots Marcos Gonzalez and Emanuel Martinez with Colombia’s Simon Correa in fourth place.

Meanwhile, in the remaining events where play was arranged first on a group basis followed by a knock-out phase, it was success for Argentina’s Elias Romero, Chile’s Matias Pino and Russia’s Aleksei Saunin.

After accounting for colleague, Guillerme de la Iglesia at the semi-final stage (11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6), Elias Romero, the winner last week in Chile, clinched the Men’s Singles Class 2-5 title by beating Tomas Caride, also from Argentina in the final (11-7, 11-4, 11-6).

“I feel good and I was confident before the final. My target is next year the Junior Pan-American Games in Brazil”, Elias Romero

Good form from Elias Romero; it was the same in Men’s Singles Class 6 from Matias Pino and in Men’s Singles Class 8 from Aleksei Saunin.

At the semi-final stage Matias Pino overcame Ecuador’s Jim Vera (11-2, 11-5, 11-4) before defeating compatriot Ignacio Torres (12-10, 11-7, 11-3) to seal the top prize.

“It was a hard match. I feel fantastic. I played against my friend. We are always together, practising”, Alexei Saunin

An all Chilean final, in Men’s Singles Class 8 it was an all-Russian title deciding contest; Aleksei Saunin overcame Artem Iakovlev to claim the top prize. Earlier in the penultimate round Aleksei Saunin had beaten Ecuador’s Gabriel Salazar (13-11, 11-1, 11-9); Artem Iakovlev had beaten Argentina’s Alejandro Perez.

2016 Copa Tango Junior Open Championships: Draw and Full Results