Gold medallists earlier in the year in June at the Copa Christina Hoffman tournament in Mexico, Colombia’s Jessica Alzate and Mauela Guapi repeated the form on Thursday 15^th December at the ITTF Copa Costa Rica 2022.

Mauela Guapi emerged the women’s singles class 3-4 winner as anticipated, she was the top seed; conversely, Jessica Alzate succeeded against the odds.

Competing a women’s singles class 8-9 group organised event, in her concluding contest Jessica Alzate beat Lucie Hautière from France, the top seed (13-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-8) to maintain her unblemished; the only defeat for Lucie Hautière, the silver medal was her lot.

A somewhat surprise outcome, it was the same in men’s singles class 9, Logan Watson from the United States prevailed. A player with no previous international success of note, very much an unknown quantity, at the semi-final stage he ousted Chile’s top seeded David Letelier (11-2, 11-6, 14-12), prior to overcoming Puerto Rico’s Shaquille Rivera (11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6) to seal the top prize.

Otherwise, it was success for the top seeds but in the case of Romania’s Gabriela Constantin only just.

On duty in women’s singles class 6-7, administered on a group basis, in her concluding match she beat Stephanie Chan (17-15, 11-7, 11-8) to inflict the one and only defeat on the Canadian. The previous day, Stephanie Chan had accounted for Camelia Ciripin, also from Romania (4-11, 13-15, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9), the player who in the opening contest had overcome Gabriela Constantin (11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Three players level, games ratio decides; thus, it was first place for Gabriela Constantin (4:3), followed by Camelia Ciripin (5:4) and Stephanie Chan (3:5).

Success by narrow margins for Gabriela Constantin, for the remaining favourites, less dramatic as the Czech Republic and France matched Colombia by winning two titles.

Zbynek Lambert, now 66 years old, proved that age was no barrier, he won men’s singles class 6-7.

Experience counted it was the same for 42 years of age Czech colleague, Ivan Karabec, a player who has the full gambit on major titles: Paralympic Games, World Championships, European Championships. He won his umpteenth. He succeeded in men’s singles class 10.

Meanwhile, for France, Yorik Adjal, who earlier this year had been a bronze medallist in Brazil, Greece and Thailand, secured his first open international tournament men’s singles title by clinching gold in class in men’s singles class 2-3.

Somewhat differently, Emeric Martin, with a whole host of successes dating back to men’s team gold at the International Master Italian Open in 1998, prevailed in men’s singles class 4-5.

Gold for visitors to Costa Rica, there was also gold for the hosts. Steven Roman won men’s singles class 8; thus, securing the title for the third consecutive time.

Men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles follow; play concludes on Friday 16^th December.

The men’s singles and women’s singles events conclude on Thursday 15^th December.