by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Man of the moment was Diego Fuentes; the one competition organised in two stages, the Under 18 Boys’ Team event, he guided Mexico to success.

Lining up alongside George Wang and Layan Neumann, a three matches to two semi-final success was recorded against the Nicaraguan outfit comprising Denilson Castellon, Gary Castro and Genaro Roustan, before the title was clinched in a much closer duel when facing El Salvador.

Diego Fuentes beat both Oscar Villalta (11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4), before in the vital fifth and concluding match of the fixture, he overcame Oliver Mendoza (11-2, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9). The one remaining win for Mexico was secured by George Wang in the opening match of the fixture; a success which proved absolutely crucial. He accounted for Oliver Mendoza in five games (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 14-16, 11-8).

The wins for El Salvador were recorded in the third and fourth contests of the engagement as a recovery was mounted. Jaime Galeano beat Layan Neumann (11-5, 11-8, 13-11); Oscar Villalta defeated George Wang (4-11, 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5).

In the counterpart semi-final, El Salvador had overcome the Guatemala trio of Handel Saguil, Noe Sanchez and Julio Quezada by three matches to nil.

Success in the Under 18 Boys’ Team event, it was the same in both the Under 15 Boys’ Team and Under 15 Girls’ Team competitions.

Impressively in the former, Dario Arce, Alberto Lopez, Adrian Castillo and Daniel Perez, finished ahead of Guatemala’s Sergio Carrillo, Kevin Ruano, Diego de la Cruz and Otto Ramirez. The bronze medal finished in the hands of Panama’s Gabriel Lewis, Jacobo Vahnish and Oscar Davidson.

Meanwhile in the Under 15 Girls’ Team competition, Marbella Aceves, Clio Barcenas, Monica Muñoz and Ana Magaña combined to secure the top prize; they finished ahead of El Salvador’s Monica Mendoza, Camila Villalta and Lesly Gonzalez with third place finishing in the hands of Guatemala’s Mariana Lopez, Mercedes Mendizabal, Stefanie Orellana and Jenny Cux.

Third place for Guatemala; in the Under 18 Girls’ Team event it was top place.

“I feel so excited, I think it is an important achievement for me, my team and my country, we prepared hard and I feel satisfied we achieved our objective. I am  motivated and ready for the matches that are coming, the main draw starts on Saturday; I will give my best effort to win another gold medal for my country”, Lucia Cordero after Guatemala’s success in the Under 18 Girls’ Team event

Represented by Lucia Cordero, Hidalynn Zapata, Marilena Belteton and Yesli Mayen; first place was secured ahead of Mexico’s Ingrid Gama, Melanie de Jesus and Maira Vega. Third place finished in the hands of El Salvador’s Keren Bolaños, Cecilia Orantes and Dinora Salazar.

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Players and Teams (Wednesday 8th February)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Roll of Honour – Team Events (Thursday 9th February)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Results – Under 18 Boys’ Team and Under 18 Girls’ Team events (Thursday 9th February)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Results – Under 15 Boys’ Team and Under 15 Girls’ Team events (Thursday 9th February)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Draw for individual events (Wednesday 8th February)