by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The Dominican Republic’s Samuel Galvez emerged as the surprise Men’s Singles winner; also, against the odds, Cuba’s Lisi Castillo clinched Women’s Singles gold.
Beaten by both Puerto Rico’s Hector Berrios (11-3, 11-9, 12-14, 11-9) and by Jorge Campos (11-7, 11-6, 11-5) in the Men’s Team event; then in the group stage of the Men’s Singles competition again by Jorge Campos (11-9, 11-5, 11-8); Samuel Galvez found a new lease of life.
In the latter stages, he caused ended the hopes of the host nation round after round.
After beating Livan Martinez (11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8), Carlos Hernandez (7-11, 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8) and Juan Damian Rondon (6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5); in the title deciding contest, he completely reversed the result of the Men’s Team event. He beat Jorge Campos in five games (4-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8).
“I just went out to give it all; I thought I have reached final, nothing to lose. I lost to him in the Men’s Team even and in the Men’s Team event. My strength is to attack but Jorge is very powerful, so I focused on the short game. From the beginning, whenever I start any event I see myself as the champion. Even before starting this final my coach told me you are the champion no matter what happens.” Samuel Galvez
In the adjacent half of the draw, in the later rounds Jorge Campos had beaten Puerto Rico’s Sebastian Echavarria (11-1, 11-5, 11-2), Tryese Knight of Barbados (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8) and the Dominican Republic’s Emil Santos (15-13, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7).
An air of revenge for Samuel Galvez, it was very much the same for Lisi Castillo. In the final of the Women’s Team event she had experienced defeat at the hands of the Dominican Republic’s Eva Brito (16-14, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9). In the final of the Women’s Singles competition, she totally turned the tables; she beat Eva Brito in four straight games (11-8, 15-13, 11-6, 11-7).
En route to the final, in the latter stages, Lisi Castillo had beaten Esmerlyn Castro (15-13, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8) and Cinthya Sanchez (11-5, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2), both from the Dominican Republic, prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to colleague Idalys Lovet (11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4).
“I was very disappointed about the result in the team event, I wanted to win, we have a similar level but here the one who was stronger mentally would win. My training before the match gave me confidence, I practised playing short; in the Women’s Team final, I attacked too much. The tournament was played at a good level. The players were prepared.” Lisi Castillo.
Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, on her journey to the final, Eva Brito had ended the hopes of the host nation. She accounted for Lizdainet Rodriguez (11-7, 11-5, 12-14, 11-5) and Shelly Machado Fernandez (11-3, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8), before ending the hopes of Karla Perez Gonzalez (13-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7).
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Prospectus (as on Monday 17th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Schedule of Play (Updated – Tuesday 18th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Entries (Updated Tuesday 18th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Seeding – Team Events (Updated Tuesday 18th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Men’s Team Event (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Women’s Team Event (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Under 21 Men’s Singles (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Main Draw Under 21 Men’s Singles (Sunday 23rd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Under 21 Women’s Singles (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Main Draw Under 21 Women’s Singles (Sunday 23rd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Men’s Singles 45 Years (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Men’s Singles 45 Years (Saturday 22nd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Women’s Singles 45 Years (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Men’s Singles (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Main Draw Men’s Singles (Sunday 23rd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Women’s Singles (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Main Draw Women’s Singles (Sunday 23rd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Men’s Doubles (Saturday 22nd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Women’s Doubles (Saturday 22nd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Mixed Doubles (Saturday 22nd July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Complete Results (Sunday 23rd July)