July 10, 2008
Pan American Junior Championships: Honors Shared Between North America and Latin America in Nova Scotia
 Marcelo Aguirre (PAR) Photo By: Leon Pupy |
 Ariel Hsing (USA) |
Courtesy of ITTF
The Dominican Republic's Juan Antonio Vila, the host nation's Yang Ling Kun, El Salvador's Josué Donado and Paraguay's Marcelo Aguirre were the players to finish unbeaten in the Boys' Singles event at the Stag Pan American Junior Championships on Tuesday July 8, 2008.
Meanwhile, in the counterpart girls' event, the honor of being unbeaten went to Canada's Shirley Yan, Paraguay's Sandy Gavilan and Chile's Blanca Duran. All three young ladies maintained consistent form throughout the opening day.
The tournament is being staged at the Citadel Sportsplex, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Canadian in Form
In Group `A' of the Boys' Singles competition, Yang Ling Kun defeated Argentina's Jeremias Sotelo, Steven Chan of the United States, Canada's Terry Zhang and Colombia's Juan Restrepo, while Juan Antonio Vila defeated Jeremias Sotelo, Steven Chan, Terry Zhang and Mexico's Salvador Uribe.
However, at the end of the first day of action in the Boys' Singles competition, top spot in Group `A' was occupied by Juan Restrepo, the Colombian having played one match more than Yang Ling Kun and Juan Antonio Vila, one point is awarded for each match completed and one point for each match won.
Juan Restrepo defeated Terry Zhang and Salvador Uribe plus Canada's Jiang Yang and Chile's Felipe Olivares.
El Salvador and Paraguay Successes
Good form from Yang Ling Kun and Marcelo Aguirre and also from Josué Donado and Marcelo Aguirre; both beat André Ho of Canada, Argentina's Rodrigo Gilabert plus Canada's Tony Liu and Justin Yao of the United States, while in addition Josué Donado overcame Canada's Pierre-Luc Theriault and Marcelo Aguirre defeated Chile's Matias Contreras.
Shirley Yan
Success for the hosts in the Boys' Singles event and also in the Girls' Singles where Shirley Yan remained unbeaten in the opening duels.
She defeated Mexico's Karen Rojas plus Peggy Hsien and Ariel Hsing of the United States in Group `A'; however, it was the latter who concluded the day in first place by virtue of having played one match more.
Ariel Hsing
Ariel Hsing overcame El Salvador's Estefania Ramirios, Puerto Rico's Gloriany Baba and Paraguay's Lucero Ovelar; a fine effort by one of the youngest players on duty.
Paraguay and Chile
Defeat in the Girls' Singles event for two players from Latin America but in Group `B' it was players from that continent who led the way.
Paraguay's Sandy Gavilan and Chile's Blanca Duran remained unbeaten; both overcame Puerto Rico's Lyanne Aponte, El Salvador's Sandra Orellana, Canada's Emmanuelle Lavoie and Lily Zhang of the United States.
Competitors
Nine Pan American countries are represented with seventeen players competing in the Boys' Singles event and fifteen in the Girls' Singles competition.
The tournament is scheduled to finish today, July 10, 2008.
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