by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Gustavo Gomez won the Men’s Singles title, Katherine Low went one step better, not only did she secure the Women’s Singles crown, she partnered colleague, Paulina Vega to Women’s Doubles success.

Colleagues in arms in the Women’s Doubles title decider, beating Puerto Rico’s Melanie Diaz and Daniely Rios (11-8, 12-10, 11-7), later in the day Katherine Low and Paulina Vega were determined adversaries in a Women’s Singles final that ebbed and flowed.

Eventually, the decision went in favour of Katherine Low by the very narrowest of seven games margins (4-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10).

Earlier in the day, in the latter stages Katherine Low had ended the hopes of compatriots Judith Morales (11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4), before reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Daniela Ortega (11-3, 11-5, 11-3, 14-12, 9-11, 14-12).

Success against familiar faces for Katherine Low; for Paulina Vega it was success against the host nation. In the round of the last eight she beat Claudia Caymel (6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9); prior to ending the hopes of Ana Garcia (11-7, 12-14, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7). Notably two days earlier Claudia Caymel and Ana Garcia had won the Women’s Team event.

Impressive from Katherine Low, it was the very same from Gustavo Gomez; safely through to the quarter-finals, he withstood a brave recovery by Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre to emerge successful (11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9), before receiving a walk-over against Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes to reserve his place in the final.

The chance of gold, the Chilean was not to be thwarted; he overcame Portugal’s Diogo Pinho (11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4) to reserve the top step of the medal podium.

In the opposite half of the draw, at the quarter-final stage Diogo Pinho overcame Venezuela’s Jonathan Pino (12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4), prior to accounting for Spain’s Guillermo Martinez (11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5).

Three titles for Chile on the concluding day of action and there was one more; Felipe Olivares and Alejandro Rodriguez combined to win the Men’s Doubles event. In the final they beat Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre and Alejandro Toranzos.

A clean sweep of the individual events for Chile; pity there was no Mixed Doubles.

Alejandro Rodriguez and Paulina Vega are husband and wife.

2017 Ibero-American Championships: Full Results – Men’s Team Event (Wednesday 24th May)
2017 Ibero-American Championships: Full Results – Women’s Team Event (Wednesday 24th May)

2017 Ibero-American Championships: Seeding – Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles (Thursday 25th May)

2017 Ibero-American Championships: Full Results – Men’s Singles (Friday 26th May)
2017 Ibero-American Championships: Full Results – Women’s Singles (Friday 26th May)

2017 Ibero-American Championships: Full Results – Men’s Doubles (Friday 26th May)
2017 Ibero-American Championships: Full Results – Women’s Doubles (Friday 26th May)