Gold medallist in 2019 and one year ago, the tournament not being staged in 2020 owing to the pandemic, at the forthcoming three-day ITTF Copa Costa Rica, commencing in San José on Wednesday 14th December, the host nation’s Steven Roman aims for three in a row.

Repeat success the goal for the class 8 player, for colleague Geovanni Rodrigues, class 3, the aim is one step higher than a year ago; he was the runner up in men’s singles class 1-3.

Likewise, Puerto Rico’s Shaquille Rivera aims for one step higher, in 2021 he was a men’s singles class 9 silver medallist; in the women’s singles the same applies to Colombia’s Jessica Alzate, class 9, two years ago it was silver in class 8-10.

Turning silver to gold, Costa Rica’s José Quesada and Aneth Araya, class 8, aim for at least one if not two steps higher. Two years ago, José Quesada was a men’s singles class 10 bronze medallist, Aneth Araya the same finish in women’s singles class 8-10.

Aiming to secure titles for the Americas, it will be no easy task, there is strong entry from Europe, the player to note being the Czech Republic’s Ivan Karabec.

The now 42-year-old possess the full house of major titles. Always competing in men’s singles class 10, he won gold at the Sydney 2000 Paralymic Games, the same colour medal at the 2006 World Championships as well as at the European Para Championships in 2003, 2007 and 2009.

A notable name from the Czech Republic, it is the same from France. Lucie Hautière, the women’s singles class 8 winner earlier this year in Greece, will be on duty in Costa Rica, as will be the venerable Emeric Martin in class 4; he struck gold at the European Para Championships in both 2003 and 2009.

Similarly, note the name of Romania’s Camelia Ciripan in class women’s singles class 6; at the recent Andalucia 2022 World Para Championships in Granada, she was a bronze medallist.

Overall, a total of 53 men and 14 women will compete in Costa Rica.