by Ian Marshall, Editor

In the Men’s Singles events, Chile’s Cristian Gonzalez, the Class 4 winner last year will once again be on duty, as will colleague Matias Pino Lorca, successful in Class 6; likewise the name of the host nation’s Steven Roman and Brazil’s Claudio Massad appear on the entry list. In 2017 Steven Roman won the Class 8 title, Claudio Massad prevailed in Class 10.

All four face stiff opposition, all from bronze medallists one year ago. In Class 4, Brazil’s Alexandre Maciera and Chile’s Maximiliano Rodriguez pose major threats. Similarly, also from Chile, Ignacio Torres is on duty in Class 6, as is Canada’s Ian Kent in Class 8. Meanwhile Chile’s Manuel Echaveguren and Alvaro Vega, both appear on the Class 10 entry list.

Names to note but one most certainly one to note is that of Chile’s Luis Bustamente; a bronze medallist last year in Class 2; significantly four days ago, he won the Class 1-2 title at the Copa Tango in Buenos Aires.

Similarly, a bronze medallist in Class 3 at the 2017 Para Pan American Championships, Costa Rica’s Geovanni Rodriguez is once again on duty as Brazil’s Lucas dos Santo, silver medallist last year in Class 9.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles competition, the one name which returns from last year is that of Canada’s Stephanie Chan; last year she was bronze medallist in Class 7-9, last week at the Copa Tango a silver medallist in Class 7-10.

A total of 86 men and 19 women, representing 17 national associations will compete in San José. The national associations represented are Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, Russia, the United States and Venezuela.

2018 Copa Costa Rica Para Open: Latest Results and Main Event Draws