by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Lining up alongside Cristina Mencea, against Brazil, she beat both Daniela Yano (11-6, 11-8, 11-6) and Livia Lima (11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9); the crucial contest being the doubles that went in favour of the Brazilians in four games (7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8).
Meanwhile, Valentina Rios accounted for both Argentina’s Camila Kaizoji (11-8, 11-6, 11-8) and Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes (7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9) whilst also teaming with Claudia Infante to secure the vital doubles (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9).
At the semi-final stage Claudia Infante and Valentina Rios meet the combination of Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero and Peru’s Kelly Santur; Livia Lima and Daniela Gomez oppose the partnership formed by Kazakhstan’s Zauresh Akasheva and Singapore’s Goi Rui Xuan.
Zauresh Akasheva and Goi Rui Xuan, the top seeds, gained a direct entry to the semi-finals as did Lucia Cordero and Kelly Santur, the second seeds.
Meanwhile, in the Cadet Girls’ Team event, the finalists are known; Chile’s Mariam Ruiz and Natasha Ruiz meet Argentina’s Florencia Chirino and Elsa Hernandez.
In the penultimate round, both outfits recorded three matches to nil wins. Mariam Ruiz and Natasha Ruiz accounted for Argentina’s Abril Iwasa and Pilar Iwasa; Mariam Ruiz and Natasha Ruiz ended the hopes of Paraguay’s Rebecca Cuenca and Cristina Mencia.
Both the Junior Girls’ Team and the Cadet Girls’ Team events will be played to a conclusion on Wednesday 11th April, the day the individual events will commence.
