Ricardo Villa won the men’s singles and in harness with colleague, Miguel Lara, the men’s doubles. Similarly, Clio Barcenas emerged the women’s singles champion, and alongside compatriot Arantxa Cossio Aceves, the women’s doubles gold medallist. Villa and Barcenas’ successes came after together they had been crowned mixed doubles gold medallists.
During the latter stages of any event, neither was ever extended the full distance.
At the quarter-final stage of the men’s singles event, Ricardo Villa accounted for Guatemala’s Allan Gutierrez, the no.7 seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7), prior to ousting El Salvador’s Diego Orantes, the no.6 seed (11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8) and Miguel Lara, the no.3 seed (11-7, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 16-14) to seal the title.
Earlier Miguel Lara had recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Costa Rican 17 year old Alfredo Sanchez (7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6), prior to ousting compatriot Rogelio Castro (11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8), the quarter-final winner in opposition to Guatemala’s Kevin Montufar, the no.2 seed (10-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).
Likewise, Clio Barcenas was in an unrelenting mood. At the final hurdle, in a similar vein to Ricardo Villa, she accounted for her doubles partner, Arantxa Cossio Aceves (11-7, 11-4, 13-11, 11-6), having earlier ended the hopes of Guatemala. At the quarter-final stage, she overcame Hidalynn Zapata, the no.5 seed (9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8) before ending the hopes of Lucia Cordero, the no.3 seed, in the penultimate round (11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9).
Impressive from Clio Barcenas, in the later rounds en route to the final it was the same from Arantxa Cossio Aceves – she accounted for Rebecca Ayestas of Honduras (11-6, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7), prior to overcoming El Salvador’s Gabriela Suarez (11-8, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9) to reserve her place in the final.
A highly successful conclusion to the finals’ schedule for both Ricardo Villa and Clio Barcenas; earlier it had been the same.
Ricardo Villa and Clio Barcenas combined to beat Kevin Montufar and Lucia Cordero to secure the mixed doubles title (11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4); before returning to the fray to add further success.
Clio Barcenas and Arantxa Cossio Aceves accounted for El Salvador’s Keren Constanza and Cristina Machado (11-6, 11-7, 11-8) to secure the women’s doubles top prize, being followed by Ricardo Villa and Miguel Lara who combined to reserve the top step of the men’s doubles podium. In the final, they halted the aspirations of Allan Gutierrez and Kevin Montufar (11-3, 11-8, 11-6).
The men’s team and women’s team events now follow; play concludes in San José on Wednesday 19th May.