by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

After accounting for Guatemala’s Anthony Shitumul and Mercedes Mendizabal at the semi-final stage (8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 16-14), they secured the title at the final expense of Mexico’s Alberto Lopez and Lucia Fernandez (11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7). In the counterpart penultimate round contest, Alberto Lopez and Lucia Fernandez had beaten Leonel Barrios and Lucia Cordero, like Anthony Shitumul and Mercedes Mendizabal from Guatemala (11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7).

Bronze for Guatemala, in the Cadet Mixed Doubles competition, it was gold. Sergio Carillo and Mariana Lopez emerged successful; at the final hurdle they accounted for Mexico’s Jaime Ramirez and Arantx Cossio (10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9).

Earlier at the semi-final stage, Sergio Carillo and Mariana Lopez had beaten Mexico’s Mexico’s Leonardo Perez and Marbella Aceves (11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5); in the opposite half of the draw, Jaime Ramirez and Arantx Cossio had ended the progress of Costa Rica’s Alfredo Sanchez and Adriana Ulloa (11-3, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9).

The Mixed Doubles event concluded; play in the Junior Boys’ Singles and Junior Girls’ Singles events as well as in the Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles, competitions commenced.

Furthermore, there were surprises. Top seed in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, El Salvador’s Oscar Villalta had to settle for third place in his group and thus no progress to the main draw; in all events players finishing in the top two positions in each group advanced to the main draw. He finished behind Nicaragua’s Gary Castro and Guatemala’s Otto Ramirez.

Similarly there were problems for Oliver Mendoza, also from El Salvador; the second seed in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, he finished in runners up spot behind Mexico’s Diego Vazquez. However for the next two names in the order of merit it was first place; also from Mexico, Layan Neumann and Alberto Lopez both topped their respective groups.

Difficult times for the hosts in the qualification phase of the Junior Boys’ Singles competition, it was the same in the Junior Girls’ Singles event; Keren Bolanos Constanza had to settle for second place in her group behind Mexico’s Lucia Fernandez. Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero, the top seed, duly topped her group as did the third and fourth seeds, Mexico’s Hidalynn Zapata and Clio Barcenas.

Meanwhile, in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, the top three names Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish, Costa Rica’s Alfredo Sanchez and colleague Ricardo Azofeifa duly topped their groups but for the fourth seed, El Salvador’s Mateo Martinez it was second place. He finished behind Mexico’s Leonardo Perez.

Likewise in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, El Salvador’s Sarah Romero, the third seed, had to settle for second place in her group behind Mexico’s Arantx Cossio, as did Guatemala’s Jenny Cux; she ended the day next in line to Costa Rica’s Ariana Ulloa. Mexico’s Marbella Aceves and Guatemala’s Stefanie

018 Central American Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries and Team Seeding (Tuesday 20th February)

2018 Central American Junior and Cadet Championships: Results – Team Events (Wednesday 21st February)

2018 Central American Junior and Cadet Championships:Results – Mixed Doubles Events (Thursday 22nd February)

2018 Central American Junior and Cadet Championships:Results – First Stage Singles Events & Main Draw (Thursday 22nd February)