by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Mexico’s Dario Arce and Clio Barcenas, alongside the host nation’s Lucia Cordero emerged the most successful players on third day duty.

Dario Arce partnered Adrian Castillo to the Under 15 Boys’ Doubles gold, the pair beating Guatemala’s Sergio Carrillo and Kevin Ruano in the final (11-6, 11-7, 11-7). Similarly, Clio Barcenas joined forces with Marbella Aceves to secure the top prize in the counterpart Girls’ Doubles competition. At the final hurdle they overcame Guatemala’s Mariana Lopez and Mercedes Mendizabal (11-5, 11-7, 11-2).

Success apart, as the day closed it was success together. Dario Arce and Clio Barcenas secured the Under 15 Mixed Doubles title; once again at the expense of Guatemala. In the final they overcame Sergio Carrillo and Mariana Lopez (11-3, 12-10, 11-9).

Three titles secured, additionally gold in the Boys’ Team and Girls’ Team competitions one day earlier, means that to date, all five events in the Under 15 age group have finished in Mexican hands.

In the Under 18 age group, Guatemala are the interlopers, having won the Girls’ Team title; on the third day of play the young ladies enjoyed more success but the lot of their male counterparts was limited.

Diego Fuentes and George Wang combined to win the Men’s Doubles title, they beat Nicaragua’s Gary Castro and Denilson Castellon in the final; thus adding to Mexican success.

“Sincerely very happy, it was a fought match, we won by keeping the ball on the table; that is what it is always about”, George Wang after the Men’s Doubles final

However, in the Girls’ Doubles event, the host nation ruled supreme; Lucia Cordero and Hidalyn Zapata emerged victorious overcoming El Salvador’s Keren Bolaños and Cecilia Orantes in the final.

Gold for Lucia Cordero in the Girls’ Doubles event and also one day earlier in the Girls’ Team competition; it was also the top step of the podium in the Mixed Doubles competition.

Partnering Noe Sanchez, the duo accounted for colleagues Julio Quezada and Hidalyn Zapata to be anointed champions (11-4, 11-7, 11-5).

Play concludes on Saturday 11th February with the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events in each age category.

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)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Results – Stage One – Under 18 Boys’ Singles & Under 18 Girls’ Singles (Thursday 9th February)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Results – Stage One – Under 15 Boys’ Singles & Under 15 Girls’ Singles (Thursday 9th February)

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Results – Under 18 Boys’ Doubles, Under 18 Girls’ Doubles, Under 18 Mixed Doubles

2017 Central American Under 18 and Under 15 Championships: Results – Under 15 Boys’ Doubles, Under 15 Girls’ Doubles, Under 15 Mixed Doubles