by Ian Marshall
A full house for Mexico was the outcome: Arantxa Cossio Aceves secured the women’s singles title and partnered Clio Barcenas to women’s doubles gold.
Focused at the men’s singles quarter-final stage, Ricardo Villa accounted for Guatemala’s Allan Gutierrez, the no.7 seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7), prior to ousting El Salvador’s Diego Orantes, the no.6 seed (11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8) and Miguel Lara, the no.3 seed (11-7, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 16-14) to seal the title.
Earlier Miguel Lara had recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Costa Rica’s 17 year old Alfredo Sanchez (7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6), before ousting compatriot Rogelio Castro (11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8), the quarter-final winner in opposition to Guatemala’s Kevin Montufar, the no.2 seed (10-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).
Likewise, Arantxa Cossio Aceves was in an unrelenting mood. At the final hurdle, in a similar vein to Ricardo Villa, she accounted for her doubles partner, Clio Barcenas (11-7, 11-4, 13-11, 11-6), having earlier defeated Rebecca Ayestas of Honduras (11-6, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7), prior to overcoming El Salvador’s Gabriela Suarez (11-8, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9) to reserve her place in the final.
Imposing from Arantxa Cossio Aceves, it was the same en route to the finals for Clio Barcenas. She ended the hope of Guatemala. At the quarter-final stage, she overcame Hidalynn Zapata, the no.5 seed (9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8) before in the penultimate round, ending the hopes of Lucia Cordero, the no.3 seed (11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9).
Meanwhile, Ricardo Villa and Clio Barcenas prevailed against Kevin Montufar and Lucia Cordero to secure the mixed doubles title (11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4); before returning to the fray to add further success.
Clio Barcenas and Arantxa Cossio Aceves accounted for El Salvador’s Keren Constanza and Cristina Machado (11-6, 11-7, 11-8) to secure the women’s doubles top prize, followed by Ricardo Villa and Miguel Lara who combined to reserve the top step of the men’s doubles podium. In the final, they halted the aspirations of Allan Gutierrez and Kevin Montufar (11-3, 11-8, 11-6).
The men’s team and women’s team events now follow; play concludes in San José on Wednesday 19th May.
