by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Star of the show was Trenace Lowe; in the second match of the fixture she beat Andrea Montufar (11-5, 11-5, 11-4), before in the concluding contest, with matters level at two matches apiece, keeping her nerve to overcome Mabelyn Enriquez by the very narrowest of margins (14-12, 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9).
The one further win for Guyana was secured in the opening match of the fixture when Natalie Cummings accounted for Andrea Estrada (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9). The wins for Guatemala were recorded in the doubles, the third match of the engagement, when Mabelyn Enriquez and Andrea Estrada accounted for Jodyann Blake and Natalie Cummings, prior to Andrea Montufar levelling matters in the fourth match of the contest by overcoming Jodyann Blake (11-7, 11-6, 11-9).
Defeat for Guatemala but in the corresponding group there were no such problems for El Salvador, the no.2 seeds. The trio comprising Emme Arias, Wang de Ying and Estefania Ramirios beat the Trinidad and Tobago outfit formed by Brittany Joseph, Linda Partap and Catherine Spicer by three matches to nil.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Team event, where there were four groups in the opening phase, the leading outfits emerged successful in their opening contests without due alarm.
Three-nil outcomes were the order of the day; fielding the trio of Samuel Galvez, Mariano Lockward and Emil Santos, the Dominican Republic dominated proceedings when facing the Trinidad and Tobago combination of Yuvraaj Dookram, Curtis Humphreys and Arun Roopnarine. Similarly, Guatemala’s Hector Gatica, Allan Gutierrez and Heber Moscoso proved too strong for Aruba’s Benny Chung, Mathilda Jeandry and Jonathan Paredes.
Imposing performances, it was the same from Venezuela in opposition to Belize. José Barcelo, Marco Navas and Luis Vanegas overcame the trio comprising Devesh Hukmani, Rohit Pagarani and Taye Parkinson; whilst in a similar vein, Panama showed no charity when visiting Haiti.
Omer Avi-Tal, José Cachafeiro and Jacobo Vahnish asserted their authority on proceedings from start to finish against Haiti’s Diouley Paul, Guerrier Olivier and Donika St Fleur.
The top eight outfits in each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events join the four national associations who receive direct entries.
Cuba and Puerto Rico receive direct entries to the Central American and Caribbean Games in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events; it is the same for Colombia, as the hosts.
Additionally, for the men, Mexico are direct entrants; for the women, the Dominican Republic are already on the Barranquilla entry list.
Central American and Caribbean Games Qualification Tournament: Participating Associations (Wednesday 28th February)
Central American and Caribbean Games Qualification Tournament: Men’s Team & Women’s Team – Seeding (Wednesday 28th February)
Central American and Caribbean Games Qualification Tournament: Men’s Team – Results (Wednesday 28th February)
Central American and Caribbean Games Qualification Tournament: Women’s Team – Results (Wednesday 28th February)