by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Nine groups in the initial phase of the Junior Boys’ Team event, the one exception to prove the rule was Chile’s Rodrigo Garcia. He overcame Ecuador’s Bryan Escobar, the no.9 seed (7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5) to upset the odds and secure first place in the group.
The consolation for the Ecuadorian was that it was his only defeat, second position in the group was gained and thus a main draw place reserved. Players finishing in first and second places in each group in all events advance to the second phase.
Otherwise, it was Brazilians who stole the show with Eduardo Tomoike, causing the biggest upset and Luis Anjos following suit. Eduardo Tomoike accounted for Argentina’s Martin Bentancor, the no.3 seed (11-6, 1-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7), Luiz Anjos overcame Peru’s Sebastian Ortiz, the no.8 seed (10-12, 7-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-4).
Eduardo Tomoike and Luiz Anjos duly remained unbeaten; second places were the lot of Martin Bentancor and Sebastian Ortiz.
Meanwhile for the top two seeds in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, Francisco Sanchi, like Martin Bentancor from Argentina and Carlos Ishida, also from Brazil; it was top spot with due alarm.
Likewise, in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, Brazil’s Isabela Cassemiro and Luana Souza both secured top spots in their respective groups, both remained unbeaten, both upset the pecking order.
Isabela Cassemiro beat Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez, the no.3 seed (13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9); Luana Souza overcame Ecuador’s Viviam Ruiz, the no.6 seed (4-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9).
It was for Leyla Gomez her only defeat thus second place was secured; alas for Viviam Ruiz, third place in the group was her lot. In the opening match, she was beaten by Peru’s Kelly Santur (9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3). Kelly Santur duly finished in second place in the group.
Arguably surprise outcomes but not where the top two names in the Junior Girls’ Singles event were involved; Brazil’s Alexia Nakashima and Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes, the respective top two seeds, secured first places.
Problems for seeded player, in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, there was one such difficulty with yet again Brazil upsetting matters. Karin Tsumura, who remained unbeaten, notably overcame Ecuador’s Mylena Plaza, the no.2 seed (11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7) top her group. Mylena Plaza finished in second place.
Top spot for Karin Tsumura, it was the same for colleague, Livia Lima, the no.1 seed; she duly ended the day without alarm.
Success for Brazil, it was the same in the first stage of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, a competition in which no player owns a current World ranking.
Notably Daniel Godoi, Kenzo Carmo and Diogo Silva; the three players who had combined to win the the Cadet Boys’ Team title one day earlier all remained unbeaten and thus secured first places in their respective groups.
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: List of Entries (Saturday 18th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Playing Schedule (Saturday 18th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Team Event – Seeding (Friday 17th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Team Event – Full Results (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Team Event – Full Results (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Team Event – Full Results (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Team Event – Full Results (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Seeding (Monday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Saturday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Saturday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Singles – Seeding (Monday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Saturday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Seeding – (Monday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Saturday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Stage Two – Draw (Saturday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Seeding (Monday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Saturday 20th March
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Stage Two – Draw (Saturday 20th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Doubles – Draw (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Doubles – Draw (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Mixed Doubles – Draw (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Doubles – Draw (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Doubles – Draw (Sunday 19th March)
South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Mixed Doubles – Draw (Sunday 19th March)