At the final hurdle, Thais Fraga Severo accounted for Argentina’s Maria Garrone (8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9) and thus repeated her success of two years earlier in Buenos Aires when she had won women’s singles class 3-5.

Furthermore, the win to some extent atoned for the disappointment experienced in late August at the Para Panamerican Games in Lima when, the no.3 seed, she had departed proceedings at the quarter-final stage, losing to Cuba’s Yanelis Silva (11-8, 11-7, 16-18, 9-11, 11-5).

“I didn’t get many ranking points at the Para Pan Am Games in Lima, so I decided to play several international tournaments to recover those lost points and gain ranking places. Throughout the matches I was in control many times and also I was very persistent. I had a tough start in the gold medal match but I was confident I could do it. It is a very important win for me because of those ranking points. I’m determined to be a part of Tokyo 2020.” Thais Fraga Severo

Adding to Lima success

Success for Thais Fraga Severo, who had not enjoyed the best of fortunes at the Para Panamerican Games, for Yunier Fernandez it was adding to the success enjoyed in Lima. In the Peruvian capital city he won men’s singles class 1.

In Buenos Aires, in a group organised event he beat Argentina’s Guillermo Bustamente (11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10) in his concluding contest to maintain his unbeaten record.

“I was hoping to achieve this result but to be honest the last match was pretty difficult for me. I think I can highlight my concentration and focus as the features I showed in every match. They took me to this win. I also used the years of experience I have in some difficult situations. Being the favourite is always an extra pressure, because you have to do well and fulfill the expectations many people have on you.

However, that pressure is there when the game starts; you get relaxed as the match advances; this is my first time playing in Argentina and I really hope to be back soon. Although I’m already qualified for Tokyo 2020 after winning the gold medal at the Para Pan Am Games, regulations state I need to play in at least two other tournaments and that’s why I decided to come here.” Yunier Fernandez

Team events commence

The individual events concluded, immediately attention turned to the team competition, the partnership to attract the attention being the Japanese duo of Shinichi Yoshida and Naoki Hosoya in men’s team class 3. They remained unbeaten to top their first stage group, notably recording a 2-0 win against the no.2 seeds, Chile’s Alfonso Diaz and Carlos Torres. Defeat for the Chileans but their only defeat; thus a semi-final place was secured.

Problems for Chile, it was the same in men’s team class 4-5; likewise the no.2 seeds, in a group organised event, Maximiliano Rodriguez and Diego Oteiza experienced a 2-1 defeat at the hands of partnership formed by Korea Republic’s Jeon Taebyeong and Argentina’s Nelson Barreira.

Impressively, Jeon Taebyeong and Nelson Barreira ended the day unbeaten as did the top seeded pairing of Argentina’s Gabriel Copola ad Elias Romero.

Successful day for leading teams

Meanwhile, in the remaining events, it was a day without defeat for the leading teams.

In the men’s events, Yunier Fernandez continued his good form; partnering Chile’s Luis Bustamente, the top seeded duo remained unbeaten to secure first place in their class 1-2 group as did the no.2 seeds, the Brazilian outfit comprising Aloisio Lima, Lacordaire Viana and Ronaldo Pinheiro.

Similarly in class 6-7, the pair at the head of the order, the Japanese trio of Kazuya Kaneko, Kosuke Hemmi and Hiromoto Kita ended the day unbeaten and in first place in their group as did the no.2 seeds, Chile’s Ignacio Torres and Osvaldo Torres. Japan in evidence, it was the same in class 8, a group organised event; Arufuahirokazu Tateishi in partnership with Costa Rica’s Steve Roman ended the day unbeaten as did the next in line, Argentina’s Alejandro Perez and Pablo Kroztch.

Same scenario

Progress as predicted, it was no different in class 9-10; the top seeded combination of Malaysia’s Chee Chao Ming and Ting Ing Hock alongside Japan’s Takuya Nakajima ended the day wthout blemish, a situation that also applied to the second seeded Brazilian trio formed by Claudio Massad, Alexandre Pereira and Guilherme Riggio.

Success for prominent men’s outfits, it was the same in the women’s competition; just one event, class 2-5 administered on a group formula, the top seeds, Cuba’s Yanelis Silva and Venezuela’s Yoleidy Fernandez ended the day unbeaten as did Thais Fraga Severo in partnership with Brazilian colleague, Carla Maja, the no.2 seeds.

Play in Buenos Aires concludes on Sunday 24th November.

2019 Copa Tango: Latest Results from Buenos Aires