by Ian Marshall, Editor
At the final hurdle, the top seed, he beat Cuba’s Andy Pereira, the no.2 seed, the player against whom he had experienced a semi-final defeat four years earlier when in 2014 the tournament had been staged in Xalapa, Mexico. On that occasion Andy Pereira had progressed to win the title.
In a hard fought final between two very evenly matched players, Marcos Madrid recovered from a two games to nil deficit to emerge successful in seven games (7-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7).
Success in the final against a Cuban adversary; it was the same in the penultimate round; after having recorded a straight games quarter-final success against Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8), he needed six games to end the hopes of Jorge Campos, the no.5 seed (11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 13-11, 2-11, 12-10).
In the opposite half of the draw, in the later stages Andy Pereira had beaten colleague Livan Martinez in a close seven games encounter (11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-13, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8), prior to repeating the success of four years earlier. In the final in Xalapa, he had overcome Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador; in Barranquilla he repeated the dose in the penultimate round (14-16, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6). Brian Afanador had commenced matters as the no.2 seed.
Silver for Andy Pereira in the Men’s Singles event meant he departed Barranquilla with four medals. In addition to the runners up spot gained on the concluding day of play, in harness with Jorge Campos and Livan Martinez, gold had been secured in the Men’s Team event, later it had also been Men’s Doubles gold when partnering Jorge Campos. In the Mixed Doubles competition when joining forces with Idalys Lovet, the colour had been bronze.
Meanwhile, for Marcos Madrid, the sum total was one less. In the Men’s Team event alongside Dario Arce and Ricardo Villa bronze had been the end result, later partnering Ricardo Villa it had been Men’s Doubles silver.
On the final day for Marcos Madrid, silver turned to gold, proceedings concluded on a high note, the highest of all, the top step of the podium.
