by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Safely through to the Men’s Doubles final the previous day, Kevin Moscoso and Kevin Montufar accounted for Mexico’s Miguel Lara and Ricardo Villa (15-13, 9-11, 12-10, 11-3) to secure the top prize.

Meanwhile, in the Mixed Doubles event, played in entirety on the penultimate day of action; in the latter stages, Kevin Moscoso and Mabelyn Enriquez overcame El Salvador’s Julio Calderon and Estefania Ramirios in the penultimate round (11-6, 11-9, 11-5), prior to securing the title at the final expense of colleagues Kevin Montufar and Lucia Cordero (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 16-14). In the counterpart semi-final, Kevin Montufar and Lucia Cordero had beaten Allan Guttierez and Andrea Montufar, also from Guatemala (9-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-3, 11-8).

Success for Guatemala there was also success for the host nation. Vital members of the El Salvadorian outfit that had emerged victorious in the Women’s Team event, Emme Arias and Estefania Ramirios combined to win the Women’s Doubles title. In the final they accounted for Guatemala’s Mabelyn Enriquez and Andrea Montufar (11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-9).

A second title for Estefania Ramirios, who had remained unbeaten throughout the Women’s Team event, but in the initial phase of the Women’s Singles competition there was a shock defeat. The no.2 seed, she was beaten by Guatemala’s Hidalynn Zapata (11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9); Hidalynn Zipata remained unbeaten to top the group, for Estefania Ramirios it was her only defeat thus she advanced to the main draw.

In both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events, players finishing in first and second positions in each group progressed to the second phase.

Likewise there was also a surprise defeat for Wang de Ying also from El Salvador; the no.4 seed, she was beaten by Mexico’s Marbella Acevez (11-7, 12-10, 11-6) who duly remained unbeaten to top the group. Wang de Ying finished in second position and thus reserved a main draw place.

Surprise defeats but not for the other leading names in the Women’s Singles event; Mabelyn Enriquez and Emme Arias duly topped their groups as did the top rated players in the Men’s Singles event. Ricardo Villa, Kevin Montufar and Allan Guttierez all remained unbeaten to end the day in top spot in their respective groups as did Costa Rica’s Jeison Martinez.

2018 Central American Championships: Schedule of Play

2018 Central American Championships: List of Entries

2018 Central American Championships: Team Seeding List

2018 Central American Championships: Results – Men’s Team (Friday 25th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Results – Women’s Team (Friday 25th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Results – Men’s Doubles (Saturday 27th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Results – Women’s Doubles (Saturday 27th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Results – Women’s Doubles (Saturday 27th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Results – First Stage – Men’s Singles (Saturday 27th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Main Draw – Men’s Singles (Saturday 27th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Results – First Stage – Women’s Singles (Saturday 27th May)

2018 Central American Championships: Main Draw – Women’s Singles (Saturday 27th May)