by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Entering the last day of play, Brazil had won every event on offer; all four team titles had been secured, all six doubles gold medals had been claimed.

A total of ten; they added two more on the final day when Diogo Silva beat Kenzo Carmo in an all Brazilian Cadet Boys’ Singles final (11-6, 11-6, 11-9) and Livia Lima overcame Chile’s Valentina Rios (10-12, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-3) to be anointed the Cadet Girls’ Singles champion.

However, in the Junior Boys’ Singles events, Brazilian title hopes ended at the semi-final stage when Nicolas Burgos, the no.4 seed, caused somewhat of an upset to overcome Carlos Ishida, the no.2 seed (11-9, 15-13, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3) to reserve his place in the gold medal contest.

Good form; that good form was maintained. In the final, the Chilean once again upset the pecking order. He beat Argentina’s Francisco Sanchi, the top seed, to arrest the title (11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8).

Farewell in the penultimate round for Brazil; it was the same in the Junior Girls’ Singles competition where Alexia Nakashima, the top seed, was beaten by the host nation’s Leyla Gomez (11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3).

High hopes for the host nation but Nathaly Paredes, the no.2 seed, had other ideas.

After accounting for Argentina’s Camila Kaizoji (11-5, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9); the Ecuadorian beat the host nation’s Leyla Gomez, the no.3 seed to secure the precious title (12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7).

Play continues in Asuncion on Thursday 23rd March with the four day ITTF World Junior Circuit tournament.

South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Roll of Honour and Full Results (Wednesday 22nd March)