by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Defeat for Giulia Takahashi but it was not terminal; she duly finished in second place in the group and thus advanced to the main draw; in both the Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events, players finishing in first and second places in each group advance to the knock-out rounds.

Progress for Giulia Takahashi but for two further players who started the day as the leading names in their respective group, there was no advancement; Peru’s Maria Maldonado finished in third place in her group behind Brazil’s Laura Watanabe and Chile’s Catalana Muñoz. Meanwhile, for Argentina’s Ceiol Rotryng Alvarez it was fourth place; the players to secure main draw places being Peru’s Francesca Escobedo and Chile’s Josefina Lara.

Surprises but not in the remaining initial phase groups in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event; Colombia’s Alejandra Alzate and Juliana Rodriguez duly topped their respective groups as did the Chilean duo of Mariam Ruiz and Macarena Montecino in additionto Peru’s Karen Muñoz.

Problems for players who started the day as the highest rated in their respective groups; it was the same in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event where Peru’s José Zapata and Joel Cisneros had to settle for second places. José Zapata was beaten by Argentina’s Lautaro Sato (9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 13-11), Joel Cisneros suffered at the hands of Chile’s Jean Parra (5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8). Impressively, Lautoro Sato and Jean Parra remained unbeaten to reserve first places.

Otherwise it was first place for the leading names but there were two very close calls. Chile’s Jeremy Paredes experienced defeat in his opening contest, he was beaten in four games by Colombia’s Miguel Aguirre (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3). Success for Miguel Aguirre but then defeat. He lost to Ecuador’s Neyver Robalino by a similar margin (6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4) who, in the concluding match in the group, was beaten by Jeremy Paredes (10-12, 11-5, 11-7).

Thus all three players were level on match ratio and games ratio; points ratio decided. It was first place for Jeremy Paredes (74:68) ahead of Miguel Aguirre (68:70) and Neycer Robalino (68:72), for Neycer Robalino it was so near yet so far.

Similarly in the group that was eventually won by Colombia’s Daniel Guete, Ecuador suffered. Daniel Guete lost the Argentina’s Santiago Marini in five games (10-12, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6), before later accounting for Ecuador’s Diego Piguave in three straight games (11-5, 11-5, 11-5); sandwiched in between Diego Piguave had beaten Santiago Marini by the very narrowest if five games margins (11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 16-14).

Matters level on match ratio, games ratio decided; Daniel Guete finished in first place (5:3), with Santiago Marini (5:5) in second spot and Diego Piguave (3:5) in third place.

Testing times, not for the other leading names in the initial stage of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event; in addition to Carlos Fernandez, Argentina’s Christian Azcoaga and Brazil’s Shim Joon duly remained unbeaten to top their respective groups.

Play in the Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events continues on Sunday 25th March, the concluding day of action in Santiago.

Tournament

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: List of Entries (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Playing Schedule (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Pan American Championships Qualification (English)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Pan American Championships Qualification (Spanish)

Junior Events – Seeding

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Team Events – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Mixed Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

Junior Events – Draws and Results

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Doubles – Draw (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Doubles – Draw (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Mixed Doubles – Draw (Thursday 22nd March)

Cadet Events – Seeding

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Team Events – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Mixed Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

Cadet Events – Draws and Results

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Main Draw (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March) (2)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Main Draw (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Doubles – Draw (Thursday 22md March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Doubles – Draw (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Mixed Doubles – Draw (Thursday 22nd March)