by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Impressive throughout the whole tournament, he beat Peruvian defender, Diego Rodriguez to secure the Men’s Singles title (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6), having at the quarter-final stage ousted Paraguay’s Alejandro Toranzos (11-6, 11-5, 11-5) and in the penultimate round the Dominican Republic’s Emil Santos (14-12, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10).
In the opposite half of the draw, in the later stages, Diego Rodriguez had accounted for Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre (9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7), prior to reserving his place in the final courtesy of a straight games win over compatriot Rodrigo Hidalgo (11-9, 11-4, 11-2, 11-5).
Success in the Men’s Singles event came after Alberto Miño had partnered Nathaly Paredes to secure the Mixed Doubles title, the pair overcoming Peru’s Bryan Blas and Angela Mori in the final (11-6, 11-1, 12-14, 11-5, 11-9) and the Men’s Doubles top prize in harness with Emiliano Riofrio. The duo accounted for Paraguay’s Axel Gavilan and Marcelo Aguirre (11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-9) to claim gold.
Three titles for Alberto Miño, it was two for the host nation’s Paula Medina. Partnering colleague Luisa Zuluaga, the duo donned the Women’s Doubles crown at the final expense of Chile’s Paulina Vega and Judith Morales (11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4, 6-11, 13-11), before once again facing Paulina Vega to clinch the Women’s Singles title (5-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7).
Earlier in the later stages Paula Medina had beaten Guatemala’s Andrea Estrada (11-9, 11-8, 11-5) and Venezuela’s Neridee Niño (14-16, 11-5, 12-14, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10, 11-8); in the same rounds, the quarter and semi-finals, Paulina Vega had ended Guatemalan hopes. She beat Lucia Cordero (15-13, 11-4, 11-4) and Mabelyn Enriquez (11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9).
A total of 37 men and 32 women are competed in Santa Marta. The national associations participating were Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Bolivarian Games are held in honour Simon Bolivar who in the early 19th century liberated the countries of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama from Spanish rule.
Held every four years, table tennis was one of no less than 34 sports on the itinerary.
2017 Bolivarian Games: Roll of Honour and Full Results (Saturday 25th November)