by Ian Marshall, Editor
Mylena Plaza, 17 years old, commenced play as the no.10 seed; in a most impressive manner she ousted Trinidad and Tobago’s Brittany Joseph, the no.7 seed (10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8) prior to overcoming Guyana’s Trenace Lowe, the top seed (11-1, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 15-13) to reserve her place in the final.
Two unexpected wins, in the final she faced a very different situation; she confronted Paraguay’s 26 year old Lucero Ovelar, a player with no current world ranking but a decade ago successful in South America at junior level. Focused, Mylena Plaza retained her form; she emerged the winner in straight games (11-7, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4).
Impressive from Mylena Plaza, it was equally impressive from Nathaly Paredes. The no.5 seed, she accounted for Anthonette Riley of Barbados (5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5), prior to enjoying success in opposition to Leyla Gomez, the no.11 seed and like Lucero Ovelar from Paraguay (12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-1, 11-7) to reserve her place in the all-important final.
A challenge, just as Mylena Plaza responded so did 18 year old Nathaly Paredes; she beat El Salvador’s Cecilia Gomez, the no.11 seed, in straight games (11-1, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9). Notably Cecila Gomez was a player in form; one round earlier she had overcome Guyana’s Chelsea Edghill, the no.2 seed (11-7, 4-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7).
“I’m still a bit nervous after the match, the pressure, the tension, are not easy things to deal with in a tournament like this but I’m very happy to have qualified, it gives me huge satisfaction due to the effort I’ve been making and everything I’ve worked for. I have been training in Germany, in addition I have participated in the ITTF Challenge Series tournaments in Slovenia and Croatia, events that added to my preparation. I thank the Ecuadorian Federation and the Ecuador Olympic Committee for all the support, I feel happy that I am taking advantage of the opportunities given to me. Thanks to all those who sent me good luck messages before the competition; thanks to my coaches and my family who are always with me; this classification is for all Ecuadorians. I will continue preparing for Lima.” Nathaly Paredes
Understandably a delighted Nathaly Paredes, it was the same for Norman Carillo, the Ecuadorian coach.
“We arrived looking for success and we succeeded; this great achievement is incredible, to our compatriots, happy to deliver this triumph.” Norman Carillo
Four further places remain; Saturday 25th May is decision day.
Information
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Prospectus
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Schedule of Play
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Entries (as on Thursday 23rd May)
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Seeding (First Knock-Out)
Results
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Men’s Singles – Draw One – Results (Friday 24th May)
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Women’s Singles – Draw One – Results (Friday 24th May)
Draws
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Men’s Singles – Draw Two (Saturday 25th May)
Lima 2019 Pan American Qualification Tournament for Individual Events: Women’s Singles – Draw Two (Saturday 25th May)
Qualified Teams for Pan American Games
Host Nation
Men: Peru
Women: Peru
2018 Pan American Championships
Men: Brazil, United States, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina and Cuba
Women: Brazil, United States, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Argentina
2019 Caribbean Qualification
Men: Puerto Rico
Women: Dominican Republic
2019 Central America Qualification
Men: Guatemala
Women: Mexico
2019 North America Qualification
Men: Canada
Women: no nomination
2019 South America Qualification
Men: Ecuador
Women: Colombia
2019 World Ranking (May)
Men: Dominican Republic
Women: Chile, Mexico
Note: Canada and the United States both qualified for the for the women’s team event as a result of finishing in the top six at the 2018 Pan American Championships. Therefore, there was no nomination via 2019 North America qualification; thus as the second high team on the May 2019 world rankings, Mexico gained the final place.