by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

The appearance of Diogo Silva and Eduardo Tomoike in the final was somewhat of a surprise, they commenced play as the no.4 seeds; safely through to the semi-finals, they seized an opportunity. They accounted for Chile’s Gustavo Castillo and Jorge Paredes, the no.7 seeds (15-17, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5), the pair who one round earlier had caused a major upset by ousting Argentina’s Martin Bentancor and Leandro Fuentes, the no.2 seeds (11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9).

A surprise silver medal for Diogo Silva and Eduardo Tomoike but the biggest surprise was in the Junior Mixed Doubles event, a competition that witnessed success for their colleagues Guilherme Teodoro and Livia Lima.

Occupying the no.7 seeded position, at the quarter-final stage they beat Argentina’s Leandro Fuentes and Isabella Fragapane, the no.4 seeds (11-3, 11-7, 11-4), prior to reserving their place in the final courtesy of a penultimate round success in opposition to Chile’s Nicolas Burgos and Valentina Rios, the no.2 seeds (11-8, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9). A place in the final reserved the good form continued; in the title deciding contest they overcame Argentina’s Martin Bentancor and Camila Kaizoji, the top seeds (12-10, 11-8, 11-7) to reserve the top step of the podium.

Success for Livia Lima contrary to expectations, it was the same the Junior Girls’ Doubles event. Partnering colleague, Tamyres Fukase and occupying the no.3 seeded position, the duo ousted Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes and Emely Quinllin, the top seeds, in the penultimate round (11-7, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9), before securing the title at the final expense of Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez and Cielo Mutti, the no.2 seeds. In a tense five games contest they succeeded by the narrowest of margins (11-6, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9).

Two titles for Brazil and it was almost five. Guilia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe, the top seeds, won the Cadet Girls’ Doubles event beating Colombia’s Alejandra Alzate and Juliana Rodriguez, the no.2 seeds in the final (11-4, 11-7, 11-8). Meanwhile colleague, Kenzo Carmo finished in runners up spot in the Cadet Boys’ Doubles event in partnership with Shim Joon and, in the Cadet Mixed Doubles, when lining up alongside Giulia Takahashi.

One both occasions Peru’s Carlos Fernandez proved the stumbling block, in the Cadet Boys’ Doubles final in harness with Joel Cisneros when occupying the top seed spot, in Cadet Mixed Doubles title decider in liaison with Maria Maldonado and being the no.2 seeds.

For the Brazilians, the no.2 seeds, it was close Cadet Boys’ Doubles defeat (7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-14, 11-9); in the Cadet Mixed Doubles final when the top seeds, the defeat was more convincing (11-9, 11-8, 11-5).

Doubles events concluded, attention now turns to the latter rounds of the Junior Boys’ Singles, Junior Girls’ Singles, Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events.

Play concludes on Sunday 25th March.

Tournament

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: List of Entries (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Playing Schedule (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Pan American Championships Qualification (English)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Pan American Championships Qualification (Spanish)

Junior Events – Seeding

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Team Events – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Mixed Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

Junior Events – Draws and Results

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Boys’ Doubles – Results (Saturday 24th March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Girls’ Doubles – Results (Saturday 24th March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Junior Mixed Doubles – Results (Saturday 24th March)

Cadet Events – Seeding

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Team Events – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Mixed Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 21st March)

Cadet Events – Draws and Results

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Team – Results (Thursday 22nd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Main Draw (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 23rd March) (2)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Main Draw (Friday 23rd March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Doubles – Results (Saturday 24th March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Doubles – Results (Saturday 24th March)

2018 South American Junior and Cadet Championships: Cadet Mixed Doubles – Results (Saturday 24th March)