(by Steve Hopkins)
The XXV Central American and Caribbean Games concluded this week at Parque del Este Sports Complex in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. As has been the case in recent years, the regional powers of Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Cuba consistently had players reach the Semifinals. However, this year, the headlines are Puerto Rico winning Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, and Mexico reclaiming the Men’s Singles title as well as Men’s Doubles.
The Team events that occurred earlier in the week, set the tone. Puerto Rico’s women opened the week by beating Cuba 3-0 in the Women’s Team Final, with Alondra Rodríguez and Brianna Burgos winning doubles, Adriana Díaz sweeping her singles match, and Burgos closing it out with a hard-fought five-set win. On the men’s side, Mexico defeated Cuba 3-1 for the Men’s Team Gold. Marcos Madrid and Darío Arce opened with a doubles win over a higher ranked Cuban duo of Andy Pereira and Jorge Campos. The other Mexico wins were Rogelio Castro over Adrian Perez, and Marcos Madrid over Adrian Perez as Mexico won 3-1.
Puerto Rico locked up both Gold and Silver in mixed doubles on the strength of their two strong pairs. Adriana Díaz and Angel Naranjo ultimately topped teammates Brianna Burgos-Steven Moreno 3-0. Women’s Doubles went to Adriana Diaz and Brianna Burgos over Columbia’s Isaza and Lozada. Men’s Doubles went to Mexico’s Marcos Madrid and Rogelio Castro over the Puerto Rican team of Moreno and Naranjo. Women’s Singles went to Adriana Diaz who dominated the event including a 4-1 win in the Final over Mexico’s Clio Barcenas. And Mexico’s Rogelio Castro topped Cuba’s Adrian Perez to claim the Men’s Singles crown.
Puerto Rico brought in a total of eight table tennis medals across the Games, while Mexico and Cuba each finished with strong showings across the men’s team, doubles, and singles draws.
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