The national selections made up of Cristina Machado, Cecilia Orantes, Gabriela Suárez and Emme Arias, Melvin Muñoz, athletes of our Esfuerzo and Gloria Program; Edgardo Sánchez, Jaime Galeano and Enzo Leiva, began with defeat in the Central American Major Table Tennis that opened today at the Badminton Colosseum of the Sports Complex El Polvoríán.
The women’s team made its debut this afternoon against Guatemala in the team competition and fell 2-3 in the group round. Gabriela Suárez made her commitment to Jenny Cux 3-0 with 11-6, 11-6 and 11-8 partials, and put El Salvador 1-0 in the lead.
However, Emme Arias lost 1-3 to Hidalynn Zapata with 7-11, 9-11, 11-3 and 4-11 cartons, leaving the series tied 1-1. Cristina Machado again overtook the venues in the series after beating 3-2 Stefanie Orellana with partials 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-6.
Later, Suarez could not against Zapata, who defeated her 1-3 and allowed Guatemala to tie the series 2-2. In the duel that defined the country duel, Arias lost 1-3 to Cux with sets 9-11, 5-11, 11-8 and 14-16.
Despite the defeat, Suárez said she is motivated by the contest and hopes that the results will arrive in the next few days. “I feel more motivated because today the tournament is at home, then with all the motivation, energy and positivism to play a good role at home,” he added.
The next commitment of the Salvadoran team will be against Mexico, on today’s night. In other results of the female branch. Costa Rica fell 2-3 to the Mexican team.
The Salvadoran men’s team also began its passage through the Central American with a defeat. The whole of Mexico imposed 3-2 on the nationals.
The first duel was starred by Mexican Rogelio Castro and Jaime Galeano. Castro beat the national 3-0 with partials 11-4, 11-6 and 11-8. For his part, Salvadoran Edgardo Sánchez imposed 3-2 on José Martínez with cartons of 11-8, 10-12, 6-11, 11-8 and 11-6, by making the series 1-1.
Melvin Muñoz did his own and won 3-1 to Álvaro Magaña with partials 12-10, 11-7, 5-11 and 11-6. While Mexican Castro beat Sanchez 3-0 (11-3, 11-7 and 11-4) equalizing the series 2-2.
In the last duel, Galeano fell to Martinez 3-2.
In other male results, Guatemala beat Honduras by 3-1 and Mexico beat Belize 3-0 in the first duels of the opening day.
Despite the fall against Mexico, the Cuscatleco Jaime Galeano, who is a member of Spain’s first table tennis division, said El Salvador has a chance to take podium in the Central American competition.
We are very excited to be done here in our country. I’m very focused, he’s a Central American where we can get a lot of medals, we have very strong letters from what we hope to get profit,” he said.
The competition, which took place for six days, grants places for the Pan American Major Championship to be held also on Cuscatleco soil. However, the nationals do not fight these squares, as they correspond to them because they are organized.
For national athletes, however, this tournament represents the perfect opportunity to bonfire before their similar regionals and thus prepare for future commitments.
This article has been translated from the original which first appeared in Lapagina