Notícia

TWO WINS FOR PAULA MEDINA BUT GABRIELA KOCK SECURES GOLD FOR BRAZIL

Por CBTM

Paula Medina remained unbeaten for Colombia but she could not save her team from defeat in the final of the Girls’ Team event at the Latin American Championships in Cuenca, Ecuador on Wednesday 20th June 2007.

She overcame both Jessica Yamada and Gabriela Kock but both Brazilians defeated Luisa Zuluaga. Meanwhile, in what was to prove the crucial match of the contest, Karin Fukushima overcame Aura Ocampo, in the third duel of the fixture, by the narrowest of margins in a five games encounter.

Third Meeting
“I’d played Luisa Zuluaga on two occasions previously and both times I’d won in three games”, said Jessica Yamada who on this occasion won in straight games to give Brazil a flying start. “I think she was tired”, continued Jessica Yamada. “However, I felt my concentration wad good and that tactically I played well.”

Thrilling Duel
A good start for Brazil but Colombia levelled with Paula Medina beating Gabriela Kock in four games; the scores level Karin Fukushima fought for her life to beat Aura Ocampo and gained the verdict in a thrilling encounter.

“I lost the first two games and things were no looking good”, said Karin Fukushima. “I told myself to keep calm and just try my best, I started to move the ball about the table more and my serving improved, I won more points on my service.”

Pressure
A vital win but the player on whose shoulders the pressure rested was that of Gabriela Kock. The scores level after Paula Medina had beaten Jessica Yamada in four games, she had to face Luisa Zuluaga, a player who had in the South American Junior Championships saved the day for Colombia time and again.

More than once she had won at two-all but this time it was not to be. Gabriela Kock won in three straight games.

Calm
“It’s quite strange, when my colleagues are playing I’m really nervous here in Cuenca but when it’s my turn to play, I feel quite calm”, said Gabriela Kock. “I use short pimples on my backhand and when I attacked with my backhand I won a lot of points, she made mistakes when I attacked her backhand.”

A close match, a fine performance by Paula Medina but it was gold for Brazil, victory for a team effort

Ian Marshall - ITTF