by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Represented by Judith Morales, Daniela Ortega and Paulina Vega, Chile, the top seeds, secured first place in their group without surrendering a single individual match.
Similarly, for the Brazilian trio formed by Gui Lin, Bruna Takahashi and Jessica Yamada there was just one hiccup. In their opening contest again the Venezuelan outfit comprising Gremlis Arvelo, Camila Obando and Neridee Niño, a three-one result was the outcome. The one errant match was the defeat of Gui Lin at the hands of Neridee Niño (11-13, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8).
Just one individual match surrendered en route to top place in the group; for the no.3 seeds, the Argentine combination of Camila Arguelles, Ana Codina and Agustina Iwasa, life was much more exacting.
After recording a three-nil win in opposition to Bolivia’s Andrea Cortez, Maria Belen Herrera and Lenny Rocha; the full five matches was needed to overcome Colombia’s Manuala Echeverry, Paula Medina and Luisa Zuluaga.
The player to cause the Argentine outfit problems was Paula Medina; she beat both Agustina Iwasa (11-4, 11-3, 11-7) and Camila Arguelles (11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6).
However success for Ana Codina in opposition to Luisa Zuluaga (11-7, 11-8, 11-8) and when partnering Camila Arguelles in the doubles against Manuela Echeverry and Luisa Zuluaga (8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7) paved the way for an Argentina success. The one remaining success for the victors was recorded in the concluding match of the fixture when Agustina Iwasa accounted for Manual Echeverry (11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6).
The initial stage and the quarter-final round of the Women’s Team event will be concluded on Sunday 3rd June; the semi-finals and final will be held on Monday 4th June.
