February 3, 2010
YOG Continental Qualification Event: Singapore Bound
 True grit, Rodrigo Tapia en route to the Boys' Singles crown on the second day of play Photo By: Fernando Aguilar |
Courtesy of ITTF |
It was a second success for Brazil with Eric Jouti having qualified one day earlier but for the United States it was just one hurdle short of the double. On the opening day of action, Ariel Hsing had won the Girls’ Singles title and it seemed that American compatriot Michael Landers was set to follow suit.
He led by three games to one in the Boys’ Singles final against Rodrigo Tapia.
El Salvador on My Mind
However, the Ecuadorian had other ideas; true to his character he fought, he won the last three days and in the National Training Centre in Guayaquil news of his victory was greeted with unbridled delight.
The daily national team training session started at 5.30pm local time; news came through that Tapia had beaten Pablo Saragovi of Argentina at the semi-final stage.
Everybody practiced hard but during breaks there was only one topic of conversation.
“Have you heard from El Salvador? Then as the training session was thirty minutes away from its scheduled 8.30pm finish, the news came through “Rodrigo gagna”.
Everyone was delighted and the effect on the group was quite noticeable; the first attack ripped over the net faster than ever; the win motivated the group.
Amazing Progress
It is for Rodrigo Tapia another step in a quite amazing chain of progress; one year ago he lost every match in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event at the South American Championships.
In the past 12 months I doubt anyone has trained harder, sheer desire has brought him the reward he richly deserves: a place in the Youth Olympic Games.
Class Act
Meanwhile, for Caroline Kumahara it is also a just reward; still in the cadet age group category, she is a class act.
A well balanced player who attacks from both wings with equal efficiency, consistent, as smooth as silk; undoubtedly she is a player for the future and she is a young lady who maintains her composure under pressure.
On the opening day she had suffered defeat by the very narrowest of margins against Ariel Hsing, one day later she was the victor.
A place in Singapore was booked.
Paths to Final
En route to the final Rodrigo Tapia beat Mexico’s Alberto Romo, Canada’s Terry Zhang and Argentina’s Pablo Saragovi whilst Caroline Kumahara ousted Colombia’s Daniela Castillo, Argentina’s Agustina Iwasa before recording a final victory over Puerto Rico’s Carelyn Cordero.
Caroline Kumahara in determined mood in San Salvador
Photo By Fernando Aguilar
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