The semi-finalists of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games have been confirmed following an exciting start to the competition in Chile.
With the opening rounds and the quarter-finals taking place on day one yesterday, it was a frenetic beginning to the competition.
In the women’s draw, 20-year-old [5/8] seed Marina Stefanoni, making her Pan American Games debut, impressed as she fought back twice to down Canadian [3/4] seed Nicole Bunyan 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8 in 59 minutes.
Stefanoni takes on US compatriot and No.1 seed Amanda Sobhy in today’s semi-final after the American breezed past Mexican [9/12] seed Luz Sarahi Dominguez. Sobhy is looking to make Pan American Games history with a third consecutive singles gold this year.
The other semi-final will see US No.2 seed Olivia Fiechter take on Canadian [3/4] seed Hollie Naughton.
Fiechter, 28, conceded just six points in a demolition of Ecuadorian [9/12] seed Maria Moya. Naughton, meanwhile, was severely tested by [9/12] seed Meagan Best of Barbados, with the Canadian surviving a fightback from Best to eventually triumph 3-2.
In the men’s draw, Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez and Mexico’s Cesar Salazar will compete in a replay of the 2011 final after [5/8] seed Salazar upset US [3/4] seed Timothy Brownell 12-10, 11-9, 11-9. Rodriguez, a champion in 2011 and 2015, meanwhile, got the better of Argentinian [5/8] seed Leandro Romiglio in straight games.
The other semi-final will be contested by defending champion and No.1 seed Diego Elias of Peru and Mexican [3/4] seed Leonel Cardenas after Elias survived a scare to beat Canadian [5/8] seed David Baillargeon 6-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, while Cardenas beat Colombian [5/8] seed Juan Camilo Vargas in straight games.
The semi-finals and finals of the singles squash events at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games take place today.
Play begins at 11:00 (GMT-3) with the women’s semi-finals, followed by the men’s semi-finals at 11:45. The women’s final then takes place at 18:00, with the men’s final following at 19:00.
Click here to view the entries and seedings for squash at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
Click here for the draws and schedule for the singles and doubles events.
Click here for the draws and schedule for the team events.
Keep up with the latest news from Santiago 2023 on the official Games website.
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