by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
On her one required visit to the table, Bruna Takahashi beat colleague Vitoria Ucima (15-13, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3) to very much set the standard.
She now meets Daniela Yano in the concluding group stage contest, likewise from Brazil, she was beaten by Vitoria Ucima in her opening contest (11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9).
Impressive from Bruna Takahashi, it was the same from Paulina Vega and Luana Katsumata; both accounted for the host nation’s Guila Takahashi and Amanda Marques.
Giulia Takahashi, only 12 years old, was beaten by Paulina Vega (11-1, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7) and by Luana Katsumata (9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8); somewhat similarly Amanda Marques, notably a right handed pen-hold grip player, lost to Luana Katsumata in four games (11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6), prior to suffering a straight games defeat when confronting Paulina Vega (11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5).
Pauline Vega and Luana Katsumata meet to decide first place in the group.
Similarly, Judith Morales and Livia Lima will confront each other to determine first place in their group, after each recorded two wins. Both against Brazilian opponents, Judith Morales beat Tamyres Fukasse (11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8), as did Livia Lima but it was close, very close, the outcome being decided by the very minimum margin in the seventh game (11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11).
In a more comfortable manner, Livia Lima accounted for Brenda Amaral (11-4, 11-1, 11-5, 11-5), before against the same player, Judith Morales succeeded in an almost similar manner (11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4).
A successful day for Judith Morales and Livia Lima; in the one remaining group it was the same for Martina Kohatsu. She beat colleague Fernanda Kodama in a hard fought full distance seven games contest (10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8), before overcoming Chile’s Cristal Meneses in six games (11-8, 11-9, 2-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8).
Martina Kohatsu meets Beatrix Kimoto, also from Brazil, in the concluding contest in the group. Earlier Beatrix Kimoto had experienced defeat at the hands of Cristal Meneses (11-8, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4) but recovered to overcome Fernanda Kodamas (11-4, 11-5, 7-11,4-11, 13-11,11-5).
The Women’s Singles qualification event concludes on Thursday 4th May.
