by Ian Marshall, Editor
A group organised event Florence Gossiaux-Sireau commenced matters the no.2 seed; she remained unbeaten, crucially in the concluding match accounting for the host nation’s Tamara Leonelli by the very narrowest of margins (5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) to claim the title.
The only reverse of the day for Tamara Leonelli, she finished in runners up spot.
A somewhat surprise outcome but not a major upset; otherwise, the leading names are all very much on course. In the one further women’s singles competition, class 7-10, Japan’s Nozomi Takeuchi, the top seed and Lucie Hautière, like Florence Gossiaux-Sireau from France, the no.2 seed, ended the day unbeaten. In an event that witnessed two groups in the initial phase, they duly booked semi-final places.
Prominent names advance
Similarly, in the men’s singles events the most prominent names progressed without blemish.
Flying the flag for the host nation, Luis Bustamente Flores, the top seed in class 1-2, finished in first place in his group, before ousting colleague, Alfonso Diaz (11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7) to reach the final where he faces Brazil’s Iranildo Espindola, the no.2 seed. Likewise, Iranildo Espindola remained unbeaten to reserve first place in his group, before recording a penultimate round success in opposition to Colombia’s Ramon Briceno (11-8, 11-8, 11-4).
Meanwhile, in class 4-5, three groups in the first stage, the leading names, Frenchman Nicolas Savant-Aira, alongside Chile’s Cristian Gonzalez and Maximiliano Rodriguez progressed to the semi-finals.
Nicolas Savant-Aira and Cristian Gonzalez advanced directly, Maximiliano Rodriguez was required to play a quarter-final contest; he beat Argentina’s Giuliano Balbi (11-8, 11-4, 11-8).
Similar scenario
Likewise in class 6-7 it was three groups in the initial stage; Brazil’s Israel Stroh, Germany’s Jochen Wollmert and Frenchman Stéphane Messi, the respective top three seeds, all emerged successful, semi-final places being reserved as a result of group first place. Stéphane Messi was due to play a quarter-final round but received a walk-over when scheduled to oppose Chile’s Andres Lavanderos.
Three groups in the first stage, it was the same in class 8, first places finishing in the hands of the top three names, Frenchman Thomas Bouvais, Belgium’s Marc Ledoux and Brazil’s Luis Manara; the quarter-finals have yet to be played.
Progress as anticipated
Similarly, in class 9, two groups in the first stage, Sweden’s Daniel Gustafsson and Brazil’s Lucas Carvalho progressed to the semi-final round. Also in class 10, where there were three groups, the Spanish duo of José Manuel Ruiz and Jorge Cardona advanced alongside Brazil’s Carlos Carbinatti.
The no.3 seed, Carlos Carbinatti was required to compete in the quarter-final round; he duly overcame the host nation’a Gustavo Castro (11-6, 11-8, 11-7).
Play in the individual events concludes on Saturday 25th January when the team events commence.
2020 Chile Para Open: Draw and Results
