U19 Junior Teams Are Set for Quarterfinals
by Joshua Dyke
Teams – Adrian Rubinos (Peru) in the Junior Boys’ group stages at the 2023 ITTF Pan American Youth Championships - Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center – West Virginia. July 24, 2023.
Three days of match play have led towards the Junior Teams quarterfinals at the 2023 ITTF Pan American Youth Championships.
Dominant performances have propelled Puerto Rico to the number one seed in the boys’ junior events. The team received the first bye for the quarterfinals.
Puerto Rico, led by Angel Naranjo and Oscar Birriel, has shown signs of repeating as back-to-back U19 Pan Am Youth Champions. Puerto Rico claimed gold over Brazil in Rosario, Argentina, in 2022. We’ll soon find out if they are prepared to win it all again.
There could be a thrilling finals rematch this year between Brazil and Puerto Rico — although Peru may have something to say against that considering their impressive play throughout the tournament thus far.
The Peruvians have also advanced out of the group stages with a bye in the quarterfinals behind FERNANDEZ Carlos and RUBINOS Adrian.
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the United States made it through the group stages for quarterfinal matches after the morning sessions of day 3.
Argentina will meet a gritty Brazil team in the opening matches of the quarterfinals, and Canada finds themselves paired up against the United States.
Teams – Guilia Takahashi (Brazil) in the Junior Girls’ group stages at the 2023 ITTF Pan American Youth Championships - Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center – West Virginia. July 24, 2023.
Brazil has grasped the top seed for the Girls’ Junior Teams event with two 3-0 victories against Ecuador and Guatemala. Brazil won silver at last year’s U19 Pan Am Championships and is looking at another chance to win the finals.
Matchups will be a key factor moving forward in the event, but Brazil is a heavy favorite with one of the strongest on paper. Brazil features three players in the top 5 individual seedings of U19’s, #2 TAKAHASHI Giullia, #3 WANTABE Laura, and #5 SHIRAY Karina alongside #11 MIYABARA Sabrina.
In the semifinals, Brazil will be facing the winner of the quarterfinal match between Guatemala and the United States.
Puerto Rico’s BURGOS Brianna and RODRIGUEZ Alondra pushed their squad into the second seed and received a quarterfinal bye and await the winner of Argentina and Canada.
Junior Boys’ Teams Quarterfinals
Canada vs. United States
Tue 25, 18:00, T1
Argentina vs. Brazil
Tue 25, 18:00, T2
Puerto Rico
Round Bye
Peru
Round Bye
Junior Girls’ Teams Quarterfinals
Guatemala vs. United States
Tue 25, 16:00, T1
Canada vs. Aregentina
Tue 25, 16:00, T2
Brazil
Round Bye
Puerto Rico
Round Bye