In Paraguay, the South American Table Tennis Championship began on Wednesday. After securing gold medals for team events in both categories, Brazil continued their winning streak with victories in both the men’s and women’s doubles. Karina Shiray/Victoria Strassburger and Carlos Ishida/Leonardo Iizuka won their matches and advanced to the quarter-finals.
Carlos Ishida and Leonardo Iizuka defeated the Paraguayan pair Marcelo Aguirre and Ivan Pastore in their opening match. The Brazilian duo, ranked 494th in the world, played a tightly contested match and came out on top with a 3-2 victory, with scores of 11/6, 5/11, 11/5, 8/11, and 11/7.
“I am very happy with my debut at the South American Championship with a 3-2 victory, playing with my partner Carlos Ishida. It was a tough game. I had difficulty adapting to the table, the ball, but it was a good game, and we fought until the end,” said Leonardo Iiuzuka. With this result, the Brazilian duo will only play again on Friday (14) against Gustavo Gomez and Manuel Moya from Chile.
In the women’s doubles, Karina Shiray and Victoria Strassburger also defeated the local athletes in their debut match. The Paraguayan pair Florência Paiva and Paloma Rivarola tried their best but could not withstand the Brazilians, losing 3-0 (14/12, 11/5, 11/8). The Chilean pair Paulina Vega and Daniela Ortega, ranked 66th in the world, will be their opponents on Friday (14).
“I am very happy to participate in my first adult South American Championship. Of course, there is nervousness because it’s the first game in the first championship, but we managed to win the debut. I am looking to enjoy every moment here with the adult team,” shared Karina Shiray.
*Information provided by the Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation (CBTM)
A sports journalist from Recife, graduated from Boa Viagem College, passionate about football, athletics, basketball, and other sports.
