by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Competing in the Men’s Singles events; in Class 5, Ahad Sarand beat Argentina’s Mauro Depergola (15-13, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4); Matias Pino Lorca overcame Ian Seidenfeld like Ahad Sarand from the United States (11-7, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6).
Defeats for Mauro Depergola and Ian Seidenfeld but the door to the main draw is still open. Players finishing in first and second positions in each group advance to the main draw. In his one further match of the day, Mauro Depergola beat Colombia’s Andres Orjuela (11-5, 11-1, 11-5); Ian Seidenfeld accounted for David Cucaita, also from Colombia (11-6, 11-3, 11-6). Ahad Sarand now meets Andres Orjuela in the concluding group stage contest; Matias Pino Lorca opposes David Cucaita.
Problems for Mauro Depergola, in the corresponding group there were also problems for his compatriot, Daniel Rodriguez, the no.2 seed. He suffered at the hands of Elias Romero (7-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7). Notably Elias Romero remains the one unbeaten player in the group, in his opening encounter, he overcame Colombia’s Jorge Luis Combita (11-9, 11-1, 11-4). Similarly, in his opening engagement there was success for Daniel Rodriguez Daniel Rodriguez; he defeated Colombia’s Hector Castaneda (11-4, 11-4, 11-7).
Defeats for notable names and there was a reverse for one more; in Men’s Singles Class 8. Argentina’s Alejandro Perez, the no.2 seed, was beaten by Costa Rica’s Steven Roman (13-15, 9-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-7). Steve Roman duly accounted for Puerto Rico’s Edwin Rojas (11-6 11-4, 11-0) to top the group; likewise Alejandro Perez overcame the Puerto Rican (11-5, 11-2, 11-4) to gain second place. Problems for the second seed, not for the top seed, Canada’s Ian Kent duly remained unbeaten to top his group.
Meanwhile in the remaining Men’s Singles events, the leading names all ended the day without defeat.
Argentina’s Fernando Eberhardt, the top seed in Class 1 enjoyed a successful day as did colleague Gabriel Copola in Class 3 and Brazil’s Iranildo Espindola in Class 2. Likewise, in Class 4, the leading name, Brazil’s Alexandre Ank enjoyed trouble free times, as did Paulo Salmin, also from Brazil, in Class 7; not to be outdone, in Class 9, it was a similar scenario for another Brazilian, Diego Moreira, he remained unbeaten.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles events, where all categories are organised on a group all-play-all basis, the top seeds all ended the day unbeaten.
It was a successful day for in Class 1-3 for Mexico’s Edith Sigala Lopez, as it was in Class 4 for her colleague Martha Verdin. Similarly in Class 5 Chile’s Tamara Leonelli remained unbeaten as in Class 7-9 did Brazil’s Jennyfer Marques.
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