by Ian Marshall
Two years ago, when the tournament was staged in Asuncion; Brazil experienced a 3-2 defeat in the final of the women’s team event when facing the United States; in Peru’s capital city the result was reversed.
Once again Caroline Kumahara, Bruna Takahashi and Jessica Yamada represented Brazil; for the United States only Lily Zhang remained. Sarah Jalli and Amy Wang replaced Crystal Wang and Wu Yue.
Team effort
In Lima they met one round earlier than in Asuncion, a veritable team performance ensuring victory.
Lily Zhang beat Caroline Kumahara (10-12, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5) and Bruna Takahashi (11-5, 9-11, 13-11, 11-6) but that was the sum total of United States success.
Amy Wang was beaten by Bruna Takahashi (2-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9) and in the vital fifth and concluding match of the fixture by Caroline Kumahara (11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7); in the third contest of the engagement Sara Jalli lost to Jessica Yamada (14-12, 11-13, 11-4, 11-7).
Final
A place in the final booked, a 3-1 margin of victory was the outcome against Canada.
Mainstay of the victory was Bruna Takahashi. She accounted for Fu Ching Nam (11-7, 11-8, 12-10) and Zhang Mo (12-10, 6-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6); the one further Brazilian win was secured by Jessica Yamada in opposition to Ivy Liao (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5).
The one success secured by Canada was in the opening match of the engagement when Zhang Mo prevailed against Caroline Kumahara (11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6).
Guiding hand
Earlier, in the counterpart semi-final, Canada had recorded a 3-1 win against Chile.
Zhang Mo proved the guiding hand accounting for both Daniela Ortega (11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7) and Paulina Vega (9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9).
Fu Ching Nam added the one further win by overcoming Judith Morales (6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4); the one win for Chile was recorded by Paulina Vega in opposition to Ivy Liao (13-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-4).
Vitor Ishiy
Impressive from Bruna Takahashi; in the men’s team event it was even more impressive from Vitor Ishiy.
Focused, in the penultimate round against Argentina, he beat Gaston Alto (13-15, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7) and Horacio Cifuentes (11-4, 11-7, 11-9), in the final when facing Chile, he overcame Juan Lamadrid (11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3) and Gustavo Gomez (9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6).
Gustavo Tsuboi
On both occasions 3-1 victory margins were posted, likewise Gustavo Tsuboi remaining unbeaten.
Facing Argentina, he overcame Santiago Lorenzo (11-8, 11-9, 11-9), in opposition to Chile, he prevailed against Felipe Olivares (6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11).
Alas for Eric Jouti it was not the best of days; he was beaten by both Horacio Cifuentes (11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 14-16, 11-8) and by Gustavo Gomez (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5).
Earlier defeat avenged
Success for Gustavo Gomez and an air of revenge; earlier when the teams had met in the group stage; Gustavo Gomez had lost to Eric Jouti in four games (15-13, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7).
Notably, the only defeats experienced by Gustavo Gomez in the men’s team event were against Brazil; at the semi-final staged he remained unbeaten in a 3-1 win against the United States.
He beat Zhang Kai (11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9) and Nikhil Kumar (11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5) in a 3-1 overall success; the one further Chilean win being secured by Felipe Olivares in opposition to Sharon Alguetti (9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 13-11).
The one success for the United States was claimed in the opening match of the engagement by Nikhil Kumar when facing Juan La Madrid (14-12, 11-4, 11-9).
Overall champions
A positive end to proceedings for Brazil who ended the tournament the most successful of all in terms of titles.
Earlier Hugo Calderano had won the men’s singles, Vitor Ishiy and Bruna Takahashi had claimed mixed doubles gold.</h6)
