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Pan American Games Team Championships, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil
Men's final:
[4] COLOMBIA bt [2] CANADA 2-0
Javier Castilla Conde bt Robin Clarke 9-2, 0-9, 10-9, 9-3
(51m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez bt Shahier Razik 0-9, 10-9, 9-4, 9-7
(94m)
Bernardo Samper v Shawn Delierre (dead rubber - match not
played)
Women's final:
[3] CANADA bt [1] USA 2-1
Carolyn Russell bt Michelle Quibell 3-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-5 (35m)
Runa Reta lost to Natalie Grainger 2-9, 0-9, 4-9 (22m)
Alana Miller bt Latasha Khan 9-7, 9-5, 10-8 (43m)
Colombia Deny Canada Pan Am Games Gold Double
Colombia maintained
their giant-killing run in the Pan American Games to deny
Canada double squash gold in the team events at the Miécimo
da Silva Complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Colombia beat Canada 2/0 in the men's final to win gold for
the first time, while
Canada defeated USA 2/1 in a dramatic women's final
to reclaim the title lost to USA in the 2003 final in the
Dominican Republic.
It was a sensational performance by fourth seeds Colombia
who reached the men's event final for the first time by
upsetting favourites Mexico - led by individual gold
medallist Eric Galvez - in the semi-finals.
 Javier
Castilla Conde, a 26-year-old from Bogotá ranked 229 in the
world, put Colombia in the lead when he beat Canada's world
No77 Robin Clarke, a 21-year-old 'veteran' of more than 30
PSA Tour events, 9-2, 0-9, 10-9, 9-3 in 51 minutes.
But it was top string Miguel Angel Rodriguez who was the
hero for Colombia. The 21-year-old, also from Bogotá,
recovered from a nervous start against Shahier Razik to beat
the 2006 gold medallist 0-9, 10-9, 9-4, 9-7 in 94 minutes -
appropriately the longest match of the tournament.
Toronto-based Razik, ranked 20 places higher than his
Colombian opponent, was no match for the in-form Rodriguez
who broke into the world top 50 this month to become the
highest-ranked player from his country.
 "This
is an historic moment for Colombia," said
Sergio Rodriguez,
President of the Federacion Panamericana de Squash, who is
also Treasurer of the Colombian NOC. "Squash has grown
exponentially in the last ten years but this gold has come
four years earlier than expected. Sardar Khan instilled
belief in our teams and I am immensely proud of their
performance, both Men and Women.
"Gold, the metal for which we were discovered, is again part
of history; this time with Squash," Rodriguez added. "What
a triumph to continue the winning vein of 2007: Champions at
the South American Junior Championships, Champions at the
South American Championships (seniors) and now Gold at the
Pan American Games of the Olympic cycle. The triumphs in
Rio fill the Colombian Squash community with joy and give us
momentum to further our commitment towards youth."
Among those watching the men's final was
Andres Botero, the
President of the CNOC who was elected as an IOC Member two
weeks ago.
 The
women's final was also an upset, with Carolyn Russell
opening up an impressive lead for third seeds Canada when
she beat Michelle Quibell 3-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-5. Favourites
USA struck back in convincing fashion as individual Pan Am
Games gold medallist Natalie Grainger extended her unbeaten
Rio run to seven matches with a 9-2, 9-0, 9-4 victory over
Canadian Runa Reta in just 22 minutes.
The decider saw surprise 2007 individual silver medallist
Alana Miller overcome USA's 2003 gold medal winner Latasha
Khan, ranked 14 places higher in the world, 9-7, 9-5, 10-8
in 43 minutes to clinch a memorable triumph for Canada.
"The Pan American Games Rio 2007 have been a resounding
success for Squash," added World Squash Federation Chief
Executive Christian
Leighton. "The passion and commitment that I've
witnessed from athletes, referees and administrators shows
how much this competition means to them.
"WSF is very grateful to Mario Vazquez Rana, President of
the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO), and the CORIO
for hosting our event. The spread of gold medals shows how
competition is really heating up in the region. The four
golds on offer went to four different countries (Mexico,
USA, Canada and Colombia). We very much look forward to
Guadalajara 2011."
Men's Bronze medal winners: [1] MEXICO & [3] BRAZIL
5th place play-off:
USA bt ARGENTINA 2-1
Jamie Crombie bt Matias Valenzuela 9-3, 9-3, 9-0
Julian Illingworth lost to Roberto Pezzota 2-9, 6-9, 3-9
Christopher Gordon bt Rodrigo Pezzota 9-0, 9-4, 9-4
7th place: EL SALVADOR, 8th place: PERU, 9th place:
GUATEMALA, 10th place: VENEZUELA
Women's Bronze medal winners: [2] MEXICO & COLOMBIA
5th place play-off:
[4] BRAZIL bt ARGENTINA 3-0
Mariana Pontalti bt Fernanda Rocha 9-3, 9-5, 9-3
Thaisa Serafini bt Luz Etchechoury 9-2, 9-3, 10-8
Karen Redfern bt Antonella Falcione 9-4, 9-1, 9-6
Men's Semi-finals:
[4] COLOMBIA bt [1] MEXICO
2-0
Javier Castilla Conde bt Marcos Mendez 9-4, 4-9, 9-4, 9-4
(66m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez bt Eric Galvez 4-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-3
(83m)
Bernardo Samper v Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (dead
rubber not played)
[2] CANADA bt [3] BRAZIL
2-0
Robin Clarke bt Luciano Alves Barbosa 9-5, 5-9, 9-7, 9-4
(57m)
Shahier Razik bt Rafael F Alarcon 9-6, 4-9, 9-6, 9-6
Shawn Delierre v Ronivaldo Santos (dead rubber not played)
Women's Semi-finals:
[1] USA bt [2] MEXICO 3-0
Michelle Quibell bt Nayelly Hernandez 9-6, 9-2, 9-2
Natalie Grainger bt Samantha Teran 9-7, 9-2, 9-5
Latasha Khan bt Karina Herrera Zuniga 9-0, 9-3, 9-4
[3] CANADA bt COLOMBIA 2-1
Carolyn Russell bt Catalina Pelaez 9-0, 9-3, 9-0
Runa Reta bt Silvia Angulo Rugeles 9-7, 9-1, 9-3
Alana Miller lost to Isabel Restrepo 0-9, 0-9
Canada
Chasing Double Pan Am Games Gold In Rio
 Canada
are in line for double squash gold in the Pan American Games
after surviving the semi-finals in both the men's and
women's team events at the Miécimo da Silva Complex in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil.
But it was Colombia who hit the headlines on the penultimate
day of the team competition after beating favourites Mexico
2/0 in the men's semi-finals. Javier Castilla Conde put the
fourth seeds ahead with a 9-4, 4-9, 9-4, 9-4 victory over
Mexican Marcos Mendez in 66 minutes before 21-year-old
Miguel Angel Rodriguez gave one of the best performances of
his life to defeat newly-crowned Pan Am Games gold medallist
Eric Galvez - ranked nine places higher in the world - 4-9,
9-5, 9-7, 9-3 in an 83-minute marathon.
Appearing in their first final in the history of the Games,
Colombia will face Canada after the second seeds beat Brazil
2/0. Canada, winners of the team gold medal in 1995 and
1999, are through to their fourth successive men's final.
The women's team final will be a North American clash for
the fourth time in a row. Individual gold medallist Natalie
Grainger led favourites USA to a 3/0 win over Mexico in the
first semi-final. The defending champion will face Canada
for gold after the third seeds defeated Colombia 2/1 in the
other semi.
Men's quarter-finals:
[1] MEXICO bye
[4] COLOMBIA bt ARGENTINA
2-1
Javier Castilla Conde bt Matias Valenzuela 6-9, 9-2, 9-1,
9-7
Miguel Angel Rodriguez lost to Roberto Pezzota 6-9, 1-9, 1-9
Bernardo Samper bt Rodrigo Pezzota 9-6, 9-1, 9-6
[3] BRAZIL bt USA 2-1
Luciano Alves Barbosa bt Jamie Crombie 7-9, 9-2, 9-0, 9-2
Rafael F Alarcon bt Julian Illingworth 8-10, 9-4, 9-4, 9-4
Ronivaldo Santos lost to Christopher Gordon 0-9, 0-9, 0-9
[2]
CANADA bye
Women's finals qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] USA bt [4] BRAZIL
3-0
Michelle Quibell bt Mariana Pontalti 9-5, 9-1, 9-6
Natalie Grainger bt Thaisa Serafini 9-1, 9-0, 9-2
Latasha Khan bt Karen Redfern 9-1, 9-0, 9-3
Final positions: 1 USA, 2 Colombia, 3 Brazil
Pool B:
[3] CANADA bt [2] MEXICO 2-1
Carolyn Russell bt
Nayelly Hernandez 9-1, 9-1, 9-2
Runa Reta lost to Samantha Teran 3-9, 9-2, 2-9, 3-9
Alana Miller bt Karina Herrera Zuniga 9-4, 5-9, 9-0, 9-0
Final positions: 1 Canada, 2 Mexico, 3 Argentina
Illingworth Gains Revenge Over Galvez
Just 24 hours after losing to the Mexican in the men's
individual Pan American Games final, US hero Julian
Illingworth gained revenge on the first day of the team
event by beating gold medallist Eric Galvez in the opening
match of the Pool A tie between USA and favourites Mexico at
the Miécimo da Silva Complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It turned out to be a gruelling day for the 23-year-old from
Portland who had first led his squad in the early morning
tie against El Salvador. Illingworth went down 9-3, 9-0,
9-6 to Ricardo Weisskopf - but his team-mates saved the day
to lead USA to a 2/1 win.
The position was reversed later in the day when the
three-times US champion recovered his form to overcome
Galvez 9-3, 7-9, 10-8, 9-0 - but this time it was Galvez's
team-mates who restored order to take the top seeds to a 2/1
win over USA to finish in first place in the Pool standings.
The success earns Mexico a bye in the quarter-finals as the
men's event moves into the knockout stages, while USA will
face third seeds Brazil for a place in the semi-finals.
On the first day of the women's team action, new gold
medallist Natalie Grainger brushed aside Silvia Angulo
Rugeles 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 as favourites USA defeated Colombia
3/0. The US squad now face fourth seeds Brazil in the final
tie in Pool A.
Men's quarter-final line-up
[1] MEXICO bye
[4] COLOMBIA v ARGENTINA
[3] BRAZIL v USA
[2] CANADA bye
Men's qualifying rounds -
Pool A:
[1] MEXICO bt EL SALVADOR 3-0
Eric Galvez bt Ricardo Weisskopf 9-4, 9-3, 9-4
Marcos Mendez bt Byron Garcia 9-7, 9-5, 9-1
Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira bt Nelson Coronado 9-3, 9-6,
9-2
USA bt EL SALVADOR 2-1
Julian Illingworth lost to Ricardo Weisskopf 3-9, 0-9, 6-9
Christopher Gordon bt Nelson Coronado 9-5, 9-2, 9-0
Jamie Crombie bt Byron Garcia 9-1, 9-1, 9-5
[1] MEXICO bt USA 2-1
Eric Galvez lost to Julian Illingworth 3-9, 9-7, 8-10, 0-9
Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira bt Christopher Gordon 7-9,
9-4, 9-5, 9-2
Marcos Mendez bt Jamie Crombie 9-4, 9-3, 9-0
Final positions: 1 Mexico, 2 USA, 3 El Salvador
Pool B:
[2] CANADA bt ARGENTINA 3-0
Shahier Razik bt Roberto Pezzota 9-0, 9-1, 9-3
Shawn Delierre bt Rodrigo Pezzota 7-9, 9-2, 4-9, 9-4, 9-1
Robin Clarke bt Matias Valenzuela 9-6, 9-8, 9-6
[2] CANADA bt GUATEMALA 2-1
Shahier Razik bt Jose Paulo Mendez 9-2, 9-2, 9-2
Robin Clarke bt Mauricio Sedano 9-1, 9-6, 9-3
Shawn Delierre lost to Luis Asturias 4-9, 4-9, 9-1, 7-9
ARGENTINA bt GUATEMALA 3-0
Roberto Pezzota bt Jose Paulo Mendez 9-0, 9-5, 9-1
Rodrigo Pezzota bt Luis Asturias 5-9, 10-8, 9-7, 9-4
Matias Valenzuela bt Mauricio Sedano 9-2, 9-2, 9-1
Final positions: 1 Canada, 2 Argentina, 3 Guatemala
Pool C:
[3] BRAZIL bt [4] COLOMBIA 2-1
Rafael F Alarcon bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez 9-4, 9-5, 9-0
Ronivaldo Santos lost to Bernardo Samper 3-9, 6-9, 9-5, 6-9
Luciano Alves Barbosa bt Javier Castilla Conde 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
[3] BRAZIL bt PERU 3-0
Rafael F Alarcon bt Jose Manuel Elias 9-0, 10-9, 9-7
Ronivaldo Santos bt Mauricio Dasso 9-1, 9-3, 9-2
Luciano Alves Barbosa bt Andres Duany 9-7, 9-1, 9-4
[3] BRAZIL bt VENEZUELA 3-0
Rafael F Alarcon bt Hernan Augusto Marino Osorio 9-0, 9-1,
9-3
Luciano Alves Barbosa bt Luis Hernandes 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Ronivaldo Santos bt Francisco Valecillo 9-4, 9-4, 9-1
[4] COLOMBIA bt PERU 2-1
Miguel Angel Rodriguez lost to Jose Manuel Elias 9-1, 6-9,
4-9, 6-9
Javier Castilla Conde bt Andres Duany 9-3, 7-9, 9-2, 4-9,
9-1
Bernardo Samper bt Mauricio Dasso 9-0, 9-0, 9-1
[4] COLOMBIA bt VENEZUELA 2-1
Miguel Angel Rodriguez bt Hernan Augusto Marino Osorio 9-3,
7-9, 9-4, 9-0
Bernardo Samper bt Francisco Valecillo 9-0, 9-0, 9-1
Javier Castilla Conde lost to Luis Hernandes 0-9, 0-9, 0-9
PERU bt VENEZUELA 2-1
Jose Manuel Elias bt Hernan Augusto Marino Osorio 9-7, 9-4,
9-2
Mauricio Dasso lost to Francisco Valecillo 9-10, 10-8, 8-10,
1-9
Andres Duany bt Luis Hernandes 9-3, 9-0, 9-0
Final positions: 1 Brazil, 2 Colombia, 3 Peru, 4 Venezuela
Women's qualifying rounds -
Pool A:
[1] USA bt COLOMBIA 3-0
Natalie Grainger bt Silvia Angulo Rugeles 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Michelle Quibell bt Catalina Pelaez 9-2, 9-1, 9-3
Latasha Khan bt Isabel Restrepo 9-2, 9-0, 10-8
COLOMBIA bt [4] BRAZIL 2-1
Silvia Angulo Rugeles bt Thaisa Serafini 9-6, 9-5, 9-1
Isabel Restrepo lost to Karen Redfern 9-5, 0-9, 0-9, 5-9
Catalina Pelaez bt Mariana Pontalti 10-8, 6-9, 9-6, 9-5
Pool B:
[2] MEXICO bt ARGENTINA 3-0
Samantha Teran bt Luz Etchechoury 9-3, 9-4, 9-0
Nayelly Hernandez bt Fernanda Rocha 9-2, 9-5, 9-4
Karina Herrera Zuniga bt Antonella Falcione 9-3, 9-1, 9-3
[3] CANADA bt ARGENTINA 3-0
Runa Reta bt Luz Etchechoury 9-0, 9-0, 9-5
Alana Miller bt Antonella Falcione 9-4, 9-0, 9-1
Carolyn Russell bt Fernanda Rocha 9-3, 9-1, 9-1
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