by Ian Marshall, Editor

The no.2 seed, he secured the title at the final expense of the host nation’s Nicolas Burgos, the top seed, emerging successful in six games (6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7); an event which in the later rounds progressed very much as anticipated.

At the quarter-final stage Santiago Lorenzo beat Brazil’s Kenzo Carmo, the no.9 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 9-11, 12-10), prior to ousting Chile’s Andres Martinez, the no.3 seed, in a most emphatic manner. He prevailed in three straight games.

Impressive from Santiago Lorenzo, it had been the same in the opposite half of the draw; Nicolas Burgos ended Brazilian hopes without needing a deciding seventh game. In the round of the last eight, he beat Diogo Silva, the no.22 seed (12-10, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5), prior to overcoming Rafael Torino, the no.4 seed (11-6, 11-5, 3-11, 10-12, 11-6, 14-12).

Gold for Santiago Lorenzo in the junior boys’ singles competition, in the junior boys’ doubles event it was silver; partnering colleague, Matias Velarde, the no.2 seeds, the duo experienced defeat at the hands of Nicolas Burgos and Andres Martinez, the top seeds (8-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-9).

Success for the junior boys’ doubles top seeds, in both the cadet boys’ singles and cadet boys’ doubles competitions it was the same outcome.

After accounting for Brazil’s Shim Joon, the no.7 seed, Peru’s Carlos Fernandez overcame Henrique Noguti, the no.2 seed and also from Brazil to claim the title (11-13, 11-2, 11-6, 11-7). In the opposite half of the draw Henrique Noguti had beaten colleague Gustavo Gertsmann (6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

Defeats for Henrique Noguti and Shim Joon but together it was success; they combined to win the cadet boys’ doubles title overcoming Gustavo Gertsmann and Brazilian colleague, Luigi Yaname, the no.10 seeds in the final (12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10).

Matters concluded in Lignano, on the ITTF World Junior Circuit attention now turns to Accra; the Ghana Junior and Cadet Open commences on Monday 1st April.