Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico move into women’s quarterfinals

SANTA MARTA, Colombia, November 24, 2022.- Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico win their pools and advance into the women’s quarterfinals of the I Central American and Caribbean Sea and Beach Games in Santa Marta.

Allanis Navas and María González of Puerto Rico remain unstoppable, becoming a tournament favorite to win the gold after winning pool A upsetting the home team Ana Fernanda Beltrán and Vanessa Buenañoz 2-0 (21-6, 21-12). Earlier, they had no resistance in beating Khrysti Rosa and Kim Hughes of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-3, 21-4).

Beltrán and Buenañoz finished second in pool A, earning a 2-0 (21-12, 21-9) win over Shaniva and Sharon Balkaran of Suriname who finished third after defeating the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-19, 21-16).

Venezuelans Luisana Linares and Yhonnielis Camacho dominated pool B with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-10) victory against Jossanne Lewis and Nia Benjamin of Antigua and Barbuda.

Kianny Araya and Ximena Nuñez of Costa Rica, with two victories, 2-0 (21-12, 21-18) over Dei Padmore and Serena Edwards of Barbados and 2-0 (21-8, 21-10) against Lewis/Benjamin of Antigua and Barbuda, finish second in pool B.

In pool C, Cubans Amanda Armanteros and Jennifer Rivera had to focus to prevail in their two outings of the day, first against Alexandria Ashman and Chevonna Lewis of Jamaica 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) and then against Britney Choon and Tsyan Selvon of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-17, 21-15).

While Gabriela Funes and Sofía Velásquez of El Salvador, second in pool C, also beat Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. First, they came on top of Choon/Selvon 2-0 (21-17, 21-7) and then over Ashman/Lewis 2-0 (21-15, 21-12).

Abril Flores and Esperanza Albarrán of Mexico topped pool D without difficulties dominating Chlouie Gaetos and Deajra Tulloch of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-6, 21-4) and Chenoa Evans and Clio Phillip of St. Lucia 2-0 (21-4, 21-4).

Also in pool D, Nicaraguans Alejandra Rosales and Nahima Silva joined the winning teams beating Evans/Phillip of St. Lucia 2-0 (21-12, 21-14) and Gaetos/Tulloch of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-10, 21-7).

In Friday’s knockout round starting at 9:00 am, El Salvador faces Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago go up against Costa Rica, Barbados against Colombia and Nicaragua meets with Surinam. Winners advance into the quarterfinals.

Thursday’s Results Women

POOL A PUR d ISV 2-0 (21-3, 21-4); PUR d COL 2-0 (21-6, 21-12); COL d SUR 2-0 (21-12, 21-9); SUR d ISV 2-0 (21-19, 21-16)

POOL B VEN d ANT 2-0 (21-11, 21-10); CRC d BAR 2-0 (21-12, 21-8); CRC d ANT 2-0 (21-8, 21-10)

POOL C CUB d JAM 2-0 (21-13, 21-17); ESA d TTO 2-0 (21-17, 21-7); CUB d TTO 2-0 (21-17, 21-15); ESA d JAM 2-0 (21-15, 21-12)

POOL D MEX d CAY 2-0 (21-6, 21-4); NCA d LCA 2-0 (21-12, 21-14); NCA d CAY 2-0 (21-10, 21-7); MEX d LCA 2-0 (21-4, 21-4)