by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Winner earlier in the week of the Women’s Singles Class 3-5 title, Thais Fraga Severo joined forces with Soraia Alvarenga and Marliane Amaral to claim gold in the Women’s Team Class 2-5 event.
The win was somewhat of a surprise; the no.2 seeds, they finished ahead of combination formed by Chile’s Tamara Leonelli and Veronica Blanco, the no.4 seeds. In a group organised event top seeded Brazilian colleagues Maria Pereira Passos, Carla Maia Limp de Azevedo and Juliana Ferreira da Silva concluded matters in third place.
Also in the wheelchair categories, Men’s Singles winners Guilherme Mario da Costa (Class 1-2), David Andrade de Freitas (Class 3, Mauro Depergola (Class 4-5) maintained their form in the Men’s Team events.
In group staged competitions Guilherme Mario da Costa partnered colleague Iranildo Espindola to success in Class 1-2, the pair finishing ahead of Argentina’s Fernando Eberhardt and Guilherme Bustamente. Likewise, arranged on an all-play-all basis, David Andrade de Freitas and Jean Carlos de Oliveira joined forces to secure first place in Class 3; second place being the lot of Chile’s Luis Bustamente and Alfonso Diaz.
Meanwhile, somewhat differently, in the one team competition that was organised in two stages, group followed by knock-out, the host nation dominated. An all Argentine final witnessed a two-one success for Gabriel Copola and Mauro Depergola in opposition to Daniel Rodrigues and Elias Romero.
Notable performances in the wheelchair categories; in the standing events, the most prevalent name was that of Matias Pino Lorca. Successful in Men’s Singles Class 6, in harness with colleague João Fernanto Nascimento, he added the Men’s Team Class 8 title. The duo finished ahead of Brazil’s Francisco de Melo and Nilson da Silva Oliveira.
Gold for Chile, there was also gold for Chile in Men’s Team Class 9-10. Manuel Echaveguren partnered Argentina’s Dario Neira to success; the pair ending matters ahead of the Brazilian outfit formed by Erik Higa, Mario Costa Ribero and Flavio Conceicao.
Play concluded in Buenos Aires, attention now turns to San José, Costa Rica; the Americas Para Regional Championships commence on Thursday 30th November and concludes on Sunday 3rd December.
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