Host country for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this year, Brazil has showed its dominance in the table tennis arena in Latin America, by claiming five out of nine gold medals on offer at the 2016 ITTF-Latin America Championships held in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan from 1 to 7 February 2016.
Hugo CALDERANO (BRA), having claimed Latin America's first ever Olympic medal in table tennis at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and winning the 2015 Pan American Games to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, reaffirmed his status by clinching his third consecutive ITTF-Latin America Championships Men's Singles title.
The 19-year-old overcame the strong challenge of Ecuador's Alberto Mino 4-0 (14-12, 11-3, 15-13, 11-9) to defend his title.
On his victory, the top seeded Brazilian stated "It was a very close match against Alberto, I won in the crucial points. My concentration was very good when we were level at the end of a game, I think I played a good match."
The Women's Singles gold medal match was an all-Brazilian affair, with defending champion GUI Lin up against 2015 ITTF-Latin America Cup winner Caroline KUMAHARA. GUI eventually prevailed to win in six games (8-11, 13-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5) to defend her crown.
"It was very hard, because we know each other very well; we have trained together for a long time", shared GUI after her victory. "I managed to win some vital points and Caroline lost some confidence, that helped me take the advantage and seize control."
Defeated in the singles, KUMAHARA joined forces with compatriot Vitor ISHIY to win the Mixed Doubles title. The duo defeated the Argentine combination of Pablo TABACHNIK and Ana CODINA 3-1 (11-7, 12-14, 11-8, 11-8).
In the teams events, the Brazilian team continued their dominance, claiming both the Men's and Women's Team gold's, with Brazil beating Argentina 3-1 in the Men's and ending Puerto Rico's dreams 3-2 in the Women's Team final.
Argentina's Pablo TABACHNIK and Gaston ALTO took home the Men's Doubles title from the Puerto Rican pair of Brian AFANADOR and Daniel GONZALEZ 3-1 (11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8).
Venezuelan teenage duo of Gremilis ARVELO and Neridee NINO upset Argentine pair of Camila ARGUELLES and Ana CODINA in a full distance duel to clinch the title 3-2 (11-6, 19-17, 5-11, 10-12, 11-8).
Puerto Rico, the hosts of the event, did not return empty handed, and proved themselves as the rising power in Latin American table tennis, with 18-year-old AFANADOR and 15-year-old Adriana DIAZ securing the Under-21 Men's and Women's titles respectively.
With the 2016 ITTF-Latin America Championships concluded, all eyes now turn to the 2016 ITTF-Africa Top 16 Cup that will be held in Khartoum, Sudan from 14 to 15 Feb 2016 to find out who will be representing Africa at the ITTF World Cups.
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