Team Event Disappointment, Men’s Singles Opening Round Emphatic Wins
2015 Pan American Games
Courtesy of ITTF
July 22, 2015 – Highs and lows; it is the very nature of sport, for three players in particular at the 2015 Pan American Games in Markham, Toronto, the leading names for their respective countries, it had been disappointment in the Men’s Team event.
However, on Wednesday July 22nd, it was opening round success and emphatic opening round success for Cuba’s Andy Pereira, Mexico’s Marcos Madrid and Ecuador’s Alberto Miño; all players who had been in action during the last week of May at the ITTF-Latin America Cup in Havana.
Andy Pereira, the no.5 seed, accounted for Chile’s Gustavo Gomez, the no.22 seed (11-1, 11-9, 11-4, 11-3), Marcos Madrid, the no.6 seed, accounted for Puerto Rico’s Hector Berrios, the no.28 seed (11-3, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5); whilst Albert Miño arguably faced the toughest task of all.
Pivotal Player
He confronted Alejandro Toranzos, a player who had proved pivotal in Paraguay’s unexpected silver medal Men’s Team success. Undoubtedly, he is a young man who has made notable strides since we saw him play in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
However, Albert Miño gave the 18 year old a severe lesson. He recorded a straight games success (11-8, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5) and underlined the fact that he has every intention of emulating his performance of four years ago, when he reached the semi-final stage of the Men’s Singles event in Guadalajara.
At Last
“At last I won a game!” smiled Alberto Miño.
In the Men’s Team event he had been beaten by Hugo Calderano in the contest against Brazil; then in opposition to the United States he had lost to Kanak Jha, before receiving a walk-over against the injured Jim Butler. Ecuador had finished in third place in the group.
“Against Alejandro, whenever possible I changed the spin on the ball; continually making changes”, said Alberto Miño. “In top spin rallies he is good but his strokes are long; so it’s important to keep varying the play to stop him establishing in rhythm.”
Great Expectations
Third place in the group for Ecuador and no progress to the main draw in the Men’s Team event, the no.9 seeds, it was as status anticipated. However, for Cuba third place was a disaster, the no.2 seeds, they finished behind Paraguay and Chile.
“We had great expectations”, explained Andy Pereira. “We were thinking that we could go a long way in the tournament and that we had a really good chance of a medal, it didn’t happen; that’s sport.”
No doubt it was extra disappointment for Andy Pereira; he had remained unbeaten in the duels against both Paraguay and Chile.
Pleased with Performance
Against Gustavo Gomez he took revenge.
“I knew how Gustavo played, I knew the tactics”, said Andy Pereira. “I’m pleased with how I played.”
A Real Chance
Defeat at the hands of Paraguay for Cuba; it was the same for Mexico but at the quarterfinal stage; a three-nil reverse was the outcome.
“Before the tournament started I really did not think we were strong enough to win a medal but against Paraguay I thought we had a real chance and that there was little difference between the two teams”, reflected Marcos Madrid. “Today, maybe Hector was tired because of the team event; he’s a good player so I’m pleased with the result.”
Success; for Andy Pereira, Marcos Madrid and Alberto Miño history is laid to rest.
Qualification Rounds: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles
2015 Toronto Pan American Games: ITTF, Official Website
Quotes of the Day
2015 Pan American Games: Quotes of the Day – Wednesday July 22nd
Day Four: Play commences in the first stage of the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events
Photos by Thorsten Gohl
