Javier Vergara/Santiago-2023
After “only” finishing with the bronze medal in Lima-2019, Brazil regained its hegemony in the men’s table tennis team tournament at the Pan American Games. Hugo Calderano, Vitor Ishyi and Eric Jouti returned Brazil to the highest place on the podium after a 3-1 victory in the final over Canada. In 11 editions of the competition in history, it is the eighth gold medal won by the country.
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Brazil was champion of the men’s table tennis team in Caracas-1983, Indianapolis-1987, Havana-1991, Mar del Plata-1995, Rio-2007, Guadalajara-2011, Toronto-2015 and, now, in Santiago-2023. The country was only not champion in San Juan-1979, Winnipeg-1999 and Lima-2019.
With the result, Brazil ends up at the top of the table tennis medal table in Santiago-2023. The country won two golds, four silvers and one bronze. In second place was Cuba, with two golds and one bronze, and the United States finished third with two golds and two bronzes.
In addition to the team gold medal, Brazilian table tennis also reached the highest place on the podium with Hugo Calderano in men’s singles. The silvers were won by Bruna Takahashi in the women’s singles tournament and in men’s doubles, female It is mixed. The only bronze went to the women’s team, which lost in the semifinals to the United States, which won the title.
In the end
The first duel of the table tennis team final against Canada was considered fundamental for Brazil’s aspirations. With a great performance in the doubles, Vitor Ishyi and Eric Jouti defeated Eugene Wang and Simeon Martin 3-0 with scores of 11/9, 11/5 and 11/6.
Hugo Calderano then entered action and was soon surprised by Edward Ly, who won the first set by 12/10. It was like poking a jaguar with a short stick. The Brazilian came back with everything and won the second half by an inescapable 11/0. From then on, the Canadian didn’t bother him anymore and the table tennis player from Rio de Janeiro won without any major difficulties by 11/5 and 11/6.
In the third match, a victory by Eric Jouti against Eugene Wang was enough for Brazil to celebrate the gold medal. But the Canadian did everything he could to get his team back into the fight for the title. He won in straight sets 11/9, 11/8 and 12/10 and gave his country survival.
To secure the title, Hugo Calderano returned to the table to face Simeon Martin. The number four in the world ranking gave his opponent no chance and won 3-0 with scores of 11/6, 11/9 and 11/7.
Founder and content director of Olimpíada Todo Dia
