by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Silver medals for Chile but there was gold; Daniela Ortega, the no.2 seed, beat Argentina’s Camila Kaizoji, the no.5 seed, to arrest the Under 21 Women’s Singles title.
Titles decided but the focus of attention with one day remaining in the five day tournament was very much directed towards the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events; in both instances the top seeds advanced to the final but there were performances to catch the eye.
Just as Daniela Ortega impressed in the Under 21 Women’s Singles events, so she impressed in the Women’s Singles competition. The no.6 seed, she ended Argentine hopes. After recording a quarter-final success against Agustina Iwasa (11-5, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7), she upset the odds by overcoming Ana Codina, the no.2 seed (4-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 to reserve her place in the final.
An all Chilean affair, Paulina Vega, the top seed, awaits in the final; she accounted for Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes, the no.10 seed, in the round of the last eight (11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-5) prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Camila Arguelles (5-11, 5-11, 13-11, 5-11, 14-12, 11-9, 12-10).
Meanwhile in the Men’s Singles event the player to attract the attention was Argentina’s 18 year old Francisco Sanchi. The no.7 seed, he upset the pecking order by beating Gustavo Gomez, the no.4 seed, at the quarter-final stage, recovering from a three games to nil deficit to record a full distance victory by the very narrowest of margins (8-11, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9). Alas for the teenager he was beaten in the next round by colleague and no.2 seed, Gaston Alto; a hard fought six games verdict was the outcome (10-12, 11-7, 11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-7).
A place in the Men’s Singles final for the second seed; it was the same for the top seed and defending champion. In the later stages, Ecuador’s Alberto Miño proved the nemesis of the host nation. At the quarter-final stage he beat Pablo Tabachnik, the no.5 seed (11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5), prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to Horacio Cifuentes , the no.3 seed (12-10, 7-11, 11-13, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8).
The Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles finals, alongside the title deciding contests in both the Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles events will be played on Thursday 14th December.
Entries
2017 South American Championships: List of National Associations
2017 South American Championships: List of Entries
Men’s Team & Women’s Team Events
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Team & Women’s Team – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Team – Results (Monday 11th December)
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Team – Results (Monday 11th December)
Men’s Singles & Women’s Singles Events
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Stage One – Results (Tuesday 12th December)
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Main Draw (Wednesday 13th December)
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Stage One – Results (Tuesday 12th December)
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Main Draw (Wednesday 13th December)
Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Events
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Doubles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Men’s Doubles – Main Draw – Results (Tuesday 12th December)
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Doubles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Doubles – Main Draw – Results (Tuesday 12th December)
2017 South American Championships: Mixed Doubles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Mixed Doubles – Main Draw -Results (Wednesday 13th December)
Under 21 Men’s Singles & Under 21 Women’s Singles Events
2017 South American Championships: Under 21 Men’s Singles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Under 21 Men’s Singles – Main Draw – Results (Wednesday 13th December)
2017 South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Seeding
2017 South American Championships: Under 21 Women’s Singles – Main Draw – Results (Wednesday 13th December)