by Ian Marshall, Editor

After having accounted for Peru’s Jasmin Colque (11-8, 11-6, 11-6), Maybelline Menendez overcame doubles partner from the previous day, Anie Rubio (11-8, 11-6, 11-6) to secure the title; in the penultimate round Anie Rubio having also halted the progress of Peru. She had beaten Luciana Granados (11-8, 11-4, 12-10).

Gold for Maybelline Menendez; for Juan Gonzalez, with whom she had won the mixed doubles title the previous day, it was under 11 boys’ singles silver. Following success in opposition to Colombia’s Sebastian Bedoya (11-9, 11-8, 12-10), the hopes boys’ singles winner at the start of the week, the young Ecuadorian was beaten by Emanuel Otalvaro, also from Colombia (14-12, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 11-4). In the counterpart semi-final, Emanuel Otalvaro had ousted Brazil’s Felipe de Lara (8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6).

The third step of the podium for Brazil, in the under 13 boys’ singles event it was both the second and third steps. Leonardo Ilzuka, after enjoying success against colleague Abimail Menezes (11-7, 11-7, 11-7) was beaten by Venezuela’s Yeifrer Soteldo (11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7). In the penultimate round Yeifrev Soteldo had ended the hopes of Chile’s Mariano Perea (11-7, 11-5, 11-7).

Silver and bronze, in the under 13 girls’ singles event, for Brazil it was gold; the full set was completed. Beatrix Kanashiro beat Ecuador’s Maria Borja to claim the top prize (11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6), having at the semi-final stage overcome Peru’s Valentina Zea (11-9,8-11, 3-11, 11-2, 11-5). In the adjacent half of the draw, Maria Borja had ousted Chile’s Constanza Mesas (12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6).

A busy week concluded in the Andes Mountain Range, a host of promising young players; one wonders who in the next decade will climb the heights, who may ascend to the highest peak?

2019 South American Under 11 and Under 13 Championships: Full Results Book (Sunday 26th May)