Leading names clinch first places but not without nervous moments

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The no.2 seed in the Girls’ Singles event, she beat Colombia’s Manuela Echeverry in her opening contest in four games (11-9,11-6, 10-12, 11-3) but on her second visit to the table, she experienced a five games defeat at the hands of Peru’s Kelly Santur (11-8, 5-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9).

A fine effort by the Peruvian but it was to be anti-climax; in the group concluding contest she was beaten in four games by Manuela Echeverry. One win and one loss apiece, games ratio decided the outcome. Livia Lima finished in first place (5:4) ahead of Manuel Echeverry (4:4) and Kelly Santur (4:5).

Testing times for Livia Lima, it was the same for Paraguay’s Leyla Gomes and Argentina’s Camila Kaizoji, the respective third and fourth seeds; both were extended the full five games distance by most worthy opponents. Eventually, Leyla Gomes overcame Brazil’s Beatriz Kimoto, the no.3 seed, (11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-13, 11-8); Camila Kaizoji maintained her nerve to defeat Chile’s Valentina Rios (11-3, 8-11, 5-11, 14-12, 11-8), the player who had remained unbeaten throughout the whole of the preceding Girls’ Team event.

Alongside Manuela Echeverry; Beatriz Kimoto and Valentina Rios finished in second places in the respective groups and thus advanced to the main draw. In the one further group, Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes concluded matters in first place without due alarm; second position was the lot of Argentina’s Daniela Zapatero.

Somewhat similarly, in the first stage of the Boys’ Singles event, Chile’s Nicolas Burgos, the top seed, experienced problems. He was extended the full five games by Peru Jhon Loli (7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4). It was to be the only defeat for Jhon Loli; thus second place in the group and progress to the main draw was secured.

Meanwhile, in the remaining groups in the Boys’ Singles event, the leading names experienced fewer problems.

Also from Chile, Andres Martinez topped his group as did Argentina’s Leandro Fuentes, Brazil’s Rafael Torino and Peru’s Rodrigo Hidalgo; second places were secured by Colombia’s Camilo Gonzales and Santiago Montes alongside Paraguay’s Agustin Ocampos and Uruguay’s Pablo Palou.

Play in the Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles events has yet to start for the leading names.

2017 South American Youth Games: Entry List

2017 South American Youth Games: Schedule of Play

2017 South American Youth Games: Seeding – Team Events

2017 South American Youth Games: Seeding – Doubles Events

2017 South American Youth Games: Seeding – Singles Events

2017 South American Youth Games: Results – Boys’ Tean (Thursday 5th October)

2017 South American Youth Games: Results – Girls’ Team (Thursday 5th October)

2017 South American Youth Games: Results – Boys’ Singles – First Stage (Friday 6th October)

2017 South American Youth Games: Draw – Boys’ Singles (Friday 6th October)

2017 South American Youth Games: Results – Girls’ Singles – First Stage (Friday 6th October)

2017 South American Youth Games: Draw – Girls’ Singles (Friday 6th October)