by Ian Marshall

Safely through to the main draw, in the under 11 girls’ singles she blotted the United States copybook by ousting Abigai Yu (11-3, 11-7, 12-10).

Good form, that food form continued, in the next round she ousted Brazil’s Maiara Alves (9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9) to reserve her place in the penultimate round.

Tiayana Piyadasa now awaits; in the opposite half of the draw Tashiya Piyadasa opposes Geetha Krishna, a player who endured a testing time en route the semi-finals. In round two she needed the full five games to beat Venezuela’s Paola Zerpa (6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6), prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to Puerto Rico’s Iana Gonzalez (11-3, 11-9, 11-6).

Exacting times

Similarly, as the United States reserved all four under 13 girls’ singles semi-final places, there were exacting times for Lin Yishiuan and Mandy Yu.

At the quarter-final stage Lin Yishiuan was required to recover from a two games to nil deficit to beat Abigail Araujo (7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9).

Likewise, by the very narrowest of margins, one round earlier, Mandy Yu had beaten Puerto Rico’s Valentina Davila (10-12, 19-17, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10), prior to securing her semi-final place courtesy of success in opposition to Brazil’s Gabrielle Pincerato (13-11, 11-4, 15-13).

Mandy Yu confronts Amber Liu for a place in the final, Lin Yishuan opposes Aria Shi.

Possible outcome

Gold and silver guaranteed in the under 13 girls’ singles for the United States, such a conclusion is open in the under 11 boys’ singles.

In the penultimate round Kyler Chen meets Colombia’s Emmanuel Otalvaro, Maxim Mouchinski faces Brazil’s Frederico Martins.

A place in the final in doubt, in the under 13 boys’ singles, it certain for Puerto Rico. At the semi-final stage Steven Moreno meets Enrique Torres; in the opposite half of the draw Colombia’s Sebastian Bedoya faces Brazil’s David Fujii.

Gold medal contests

Finalists to be determined, in the mixed doubles, they are known, again the Stars and Stripes prominent.

Familar names, in the under 13 final Stanley Hsu and Lin Yishiuan face Puerto Rican opposition in the guise of Enrique Torres and Valentina Davila; in the under 11 gold medal contest an all United States affair witnesses Kef Noorani and Tashiya Payadasa against Maxim Mouchinski and Abigail Yu.

Play at the 2021 ITTF Under 11 and Under 13 Pan American Championships concludes on Sunday 24th October.