by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
The no.2 seed, she was tested by Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes, only emerging successful by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (11-4, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9).
A brave effort from the Ecuadorian but, in a competition where players finishing in first and second positions in each group progressed, it was not sufficient for the young lady who hails from Santo Domingo, to gain a main draw place. In her concluding group phase contest she was beaten by Venezuela’s Neridee Niño (11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-6); the win secured Neridee Niño second place.
Top spot was also the scenario for Colombia’s Paula Medina, the no.5 seed, as it was for colleague Luiza Zuluaga and Chile’s Judith Morales, the players who complete the top eight names. However, there was defeat for Argentina’s Ana Codina, the no.6 seed; she was beaten by Peru’s Angela Mori (11-2, 14-16, 13-11, 11-4) and had to settle for second place in the group. Angela Mori remained unbeaten to end matters in first place.
Success for the leading names; likewise, the previous day in the Women’s Doubles event, the top two pairs had progressed to the final. Judith Morales and Paulina Vega, the top seeds, meet Bruna Takahashi and Brazil colleague Jessica Yamada, the no.2 seeds.
In the penultimate round Bruna Takahashi and Jessica Yamada beat Paola Medina and Luisa Zuluaga, the no.3 seeds (11-8, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5); Judith Morales and Paulina Vega accounted for Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes and Astrid Salazar, the no.7 seeds (16-14, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8). One round earlier the Ecuadorian duo had caused an upset by ousting Argentina’s Camila Arguelles and Ana Codina, the no.4 seeds and runners up on the ITTF World Tour in 2015 on both home soil in Buenos Aires and also in Chile. Nathaly Paredes and Astrid Salazar emerged successful in four games (5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).
The final of the Women’s Doubles event will be played later in the evening.
