Sunday, october 29nd, 2023.- Table tennis at these Santiago 2023 Pan American Games got off to a strong start at the Centro Nacional de Entrenamiento Olímpico (CEO) in Ñuñoa, where one of the favorite female pairs made a solid debut in the discipline.

We're talking about the Brazilian sisters Bruna and Giulia Takahashi, who won by scores of 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, and 11-6 against Dominicans Eva Brito and Esmerlyn Castro, thus comfortably advancing to the quarter-finals.

"We want the gold medal in table tennis. Brazil has never won gold in female's doubles, and we aim to give them their first at these Pan American Games. I know it will be tough, but that's what we're fighting for," said Giulia Takahashi after the victory.

In conclusion, Giulia stated, "This was a good match to start the tournament with confidence. I'm happy to play doubles with my sister, and I hope to go as far as possible at Santiago 2023."

In another female's doubles match, the Mexican pair composed of Clio Barcenas and Arantxa Cossio defeated Ecuadorians Angélica Arellano and Nathaly Paredes with scores of 8-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8, and 11-6, securing their spot in the quarter-finals.

It's worth noting that table tennis at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games will provide direct spots for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the mixed doubles category."

Written by Patricio Echagüe y Leslie Castillo; translated by Pía Barriga / Photosport
Photo by Cristian Soto/ Santiago 2023 / Photosport