The Puerto Rican men’s and women’s table tennis teams gave this Friday the first two medals, gold and silver, respectively, at the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023.
The final of the event was held at the El Polvorín Sports Complex.
Brian Afanador, Daniel González, Ángel Naranjo and Oscar Birriel defeated Cubans Jorge Campos, Andy Pereira, Adrián Pérez and Livan Martínez 3-1 to win their second gold medal in the Central American and Caribbean Games. The first time was in the Veracruz 2014 edition, since in Barranquilla 2018 they were proclaimed runners-up.
“I feel super happy, super content. Grateful to God and my team. We had a little revenge. We really gave everything for everything. Before the game we had a very clear goal, which was this gold”, indicated the Olympic double, Afanador.
González and Afanador played the double defeating, 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11), Campos and Martínez. Naranjo fought until the end against Araya, but lost 3-2 (11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 9-11 and 8-11). González had the task of giving the team the advantage by beating the maximum number of sets, 3-2 (4-11, 15-13, 11-5, 7-11 and 11-8) to Martínez. The gold finish and closing was given by Afanador by winning 3-1 (6-11, 11-9, 11-8 and 11-7) against Pereira.
“I had said in other interviews that the job was not finished. We had a very clear goal. We left the leather there to win this medal”, said González.
The Puerto Ricans went on to discuss the gold medal by defeating the Centro Caribe Sports team in the semifinals, the Guatemalans Diego de la Cruz, Heber Moscoso, Héctor Gatica and Sergio Carrillo. The victory was 3-0.
One of the creators of the success of the tennis players is the head coach, Eladio Afanador. He was living intensely each game and each point with the rivals in the team stage.
“For me it is a dream. One more achievement in my life. Not without first saying that I am not alone. I have many people who support me to achieve this. We are very tough. I feel very proud of these boys and we dedicate it to our Island of Enchantment”, expressed Afanador, father.
The president of the Puerto Rican Table Tennis Federation, Iván Santos, gave meaning to the men’s team medal.
“This team medal is very important, because you speak of a country. This is a work team with some veterans like Brian and Daniel, and some young people who are well trained by Eladio Afanador”, concluded Santos.
Silver in the women’s, to be the first medal of the delegation
The women’s team made up of the sisters Adriana and Melanie Díaz and Brianna Burgos reached the podium with a silver medal, after facing an intense duel against the new Central American and Caribbean champions, the Cuban Daniela Fonseca, Edtela Crespo, Idalys Lovet and Lizdainet Rodríguez.
The final score was 3-1.
“The first thing I have to say is that Cuba played very well. He made a great comeback against Mexico. They played with a lot of desire. They also had a better day than us. In general terms, it’s not that the money is bad, it’s that we were the champions. That always hurts a little. There is still a tournament left, leaving the women’s double, mixed double and singles. This is starting.” indicated the head coach of the women’s team, Bladimir Díaz.
The match scores were: Burgos and M. Díaz 1-3 (7-11, 4-11, 11-6 and 10-12) in doubles, against Lovet and Crespo. A. Díaz controlled Fonseca on the single, 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-2), to tie the match 1-1. Burgos was tasked with playing the second single against Lovet, losing 3-0 (2-11, 6-11 and 7-11). In the Puerto Ricans’ fourth match, M. Díaz faced Fonseca, who dominated the Puerto Rican, 3-1 (11-7, 7-11, 8-11 and 5-11).
“Today was quite difficult. Representing Puerto Rico is a great responsibility, which comes with a lot of pressure. Our team is quite new, this will help us to improve in the future. In the next competitions I will continue giving everything”, said A. Díaz, main racket of Puerto Rico.
In the semifinal round, the Puerto Ricans defeated, 3-0, the Dominicans Yasiris Ortiz, Esmerlyn Castro, Shary Muñoz and Eva Brito.
At the 2018 Barranquilla Games, Puerto Rico won the gold medal in the women’s division with the Díaz sisters, Adriana, Melanie and Fabiola, and Daniely Ríos. In Veracruz 2014 it was the first time that the Puerto Rican rackets won gold.
