Thiago Monteiro And Caroline Kumahara Won The Ittf Latin American Cup

Thiago Monteiro stood victorious in the men event at the ITTF Latin American Cup held in Costa Rican capital city of San Jose after beating Pan American champion Liu Song from Argentina by 4:1 in the final.

The Brazilian player got the first place of the group 4 by defeating Guatemala's Hector Gatica and Paraguayan raising-star Marcelo Aguirre. Then Monteiro posted a 4:0 victory over Cuba's Jorge Campos in quarterfinals. In semifinals the Brazilian player emerged successfully over Argetina's Gaston Alto, who swept Dominican Lin Ju in the group phase and beat Brazilian Hugo Hoyama in the previous round.

On the other hand, Liu Song won the group C by defeating Hoyama and Costa Rica's Allan Calvo. Then the Argentinian player overcame Marcelo Aguirre by 4:0 in quarterfinals and Brazil's Cazuo Matsumoto in semifinals.

In the women event Brazil's Caroline Kumahara,16, became champion by beating Puerto Rico's Carelyn Cordero by 4:2. In her way to the final, Kumahara defeated Venezuela's Fabiola Ramos and Costa Rica's Angie Araya. Then the younger player scored a 4:1 victory over Trinidad y Tobago's Rheann Chung by 4:1 in quarterfinals and a 4:2 victory over Colombia's Paula Medina in semifinal taking revenge of her defeat suffered in semifinals at the Latin American Olympic Qualification Tournament.

The runner-up Carelyn Cordero got the second place in the group 2 after defeating experienced Chile's Berta Rodriguez and losing to Paula Medina. In quarterfinals the Puerto Rican player overcame top seed Ligia Silva from Brazil in seven close games and beat Fabiola Ramos, another experienced player, by 4:1 in semifinals.

Caroline Kumahara's victory isn't a big surprise because she displayed a great performance at the Latin American Olympic Qualification, where booked her ticket to London in the second day of competition. Besides, her compatriot Jessica Yamada clinched the gold medal at the Latin American Championships, what meant that a new generations was appearing in women competition. In the case of Carelyn Cordero, she is the proof of improvements made by the Puerto Rican Table Tennis Federation in the last years and of her efforts by training and competing in the Sweden.

Photo and info. source: brasilemlondres2012.blogspot.com - ittf.com