USA and Colombia capped an excellent Santiago 2023 Pan American Games with gold medals in the women’s and men’s team championships, respectively.
In the women’s event, Olivia Fiechter – winner of the singles event earlier this week – gave her side the ideal start with a comfortable 3-0 win over Nicole Bunyan.
In a competitive clash between Amanda Sobhy and Hollie Naughton, it was the US No.1 who was able to win the key battles, securing an 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 victory to secure a third gold medal for USA after Fiechter’s singlees gold and the mixed doubles gold won by Olivia Clyne and Timothy Brownell.
Result: Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Women’s Team Final
[1] USA 2-0 [2] Canada
Olivia Fiechter bt Nicole Bunyan 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (31m)
Amanda Sobhy bt Hollie Naughton 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (31m)
Olivia Clyne v Nikki Todd (match withdrawn)
Meanwhile, in the men’s event, Colombia also won their third gold medal.
Juan Camilo Vargas started strongly for the 2019 runners up, with the 29-year-old stifling a comeback from JeremÃas Azaña with an 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4 win.
In an epic match between first strings Miguel Rodriguez and Leandro Romiglio, the Argentinian made a rapid start as he looked to pull his team level, with Romiglio racing into a 2-0 lead after 11-7, 11-4 wins.
Rodriguez – part of the Colombia team that upset Canada in the 2007 final – however, fought back brilliantly, levelling the match with 11-7, 11-6 wins to force a fifth game.
In the fifth game, ‘the Colombian Cannonball,’ so often his country’s talisman, was at his very best, blowing away Romiglio 11-3 to bring the 91-minute-marathon to a close and deliver the title.
Result: Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Men’s Team Final
[1] Colombia 2-0 [3/4] Argentina
Juan Camilo Vargas bt JeremÃas Azaña 3-1: 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4 (57m)
Miguel Rodriguez bt Leandro Romiglio 3-2: 7-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3 (91m)
Ronald Palomino v Robertino Pezzota (match withdrawn).
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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