by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
At the final Diego Vazquez, having accounted for colleague, Layan Neumann (13-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5) overcame Nicaragua’s Gary Castro (11-4, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8) to seal the title; in the counterpart semi-final, Gary Castro had ended the hopes of Alberto Lopez, like Diego Vazquez from Mexico (11-5, 13-11, 11-5, 11-4).
Hard fought contests, it was not too dissimilar for Clio Barcenas. At the semi-final stage she needed six games to overcome Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero (5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8), prior to defeating compatriot Monica Muñoz (11-3, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7) in the final. Earlier, Monica Muñoz had accounted for Lucia Fernandes, likewise from Mexico (11-3, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7) to reserve her place in the final.
Titles for Mexico and there was one more; Marbella Aceves clinched top prize in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, a competition that was dominated by Mexico. They provided three of the four semi-finalists.
Marbella Aceves accounted for Arantxa Cossio in the final (11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6), having in the penultimate round accounted for Carla Montes (9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4). The one interloper was Guatemala’s Stefanie Orellana; at the semi-final stage she was beaten by Arantxa Cossio (11-4, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4).
Impressive performances, it was very much the same in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish secured the top prize and in so doing extracted revenge. Earlier in the tournament,, he had lost the Costa Rica’s Alfredo Sanchez in the Cadet Bous’ Team competition; in the Cadet Boys’ Singles final he prevailed in five games (2-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2).
In the penultimate round, both Jacobo Vahnish and Alfredo Sanchez had defeated Guatemalan opposition; Jacobo Vahnish had beaten Diego de la Cruz (11-4, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3), Alfredo Sanchez had ended the aspirations of Sergio Carrillo (7-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6).
Mexico ended the tournament as the most successful country on duty. They secured an overall total of seven titles, next in line came Guatemala with three, for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama, it was one each.
2018 Central American Junior and Cadet Championships; Results Book (Friday 23rd February)