2003 Pan American Games
John Schneider
TABLE TENNIS: USA Women Roll to Victory in Doubles Action on the Opening
Day of Table Tennis Action at the 2003 Pan American Games; Men’s Team
Eliminated
by Cecil Bleiker - U.S. Olympic Committee
For Immediate Release
August 7, 2003
USA Women Roll to Victory in Doubles Action on the Opening Day of Table
Tennis Action at the 2003 Pan American Games; Men’s Team Eliminated
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – The United States Women’s Table
Tennis Team got the 2003 Pan American Games off to a good start today
with both teams posting straight set victories in the preliminaries of
the women’s doubles event at the Table Tennis Pavilion at Parque del Este
in Santo Domingo. The men did not fare as well as they were eliminated
from the men’s doubles event following a first round loss.
Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Jasna Reed (Chicago, Ill.) set the
tempo in the first match of the day for the United States defeating
Johenny Valdez and Carmen Bejaran of the host country Dominican Republic
in straight sets; 11-3, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2.
Gao had a special fan in the stands today as her brother Ge cheered her
on. Ge is a badminton coach for Peru. He was on the 1996 Chinese Olympic
Badminton Team that competed in the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta,
Ga.
Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) and Lily Yip (Warren, N.J.) continued
the dominance by the U.S. women today with a victory in straight sets
over Brazil’s Simone Fernandes and Carina Murashige; 12-10, 11-4, 11-3,
11-6.
The sole men’s team for the United States, Mark Hazinski (Mishawaka,
Ind.) and Eric Owens (Houston, Texas), did not fare as well as their
female teammates today. They were eliminated from the men’s doubles event
following a 4-1 (11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6) loss to Cuba’s Pavel
Oxamendy and Boriz Roque.
Table tennis action will resume tomorrow morning, Friday, August 8 at the
Table Tennis Pavilion at Parque del Este with women’s and men’s doubles
quarterfinal action beginning at 10:00. Gao Jun Chang and Jasna Reed
(USA) will face Izzwah Medina and Zzwitjihalim Medina of Honduras. Tawny
Banh and Lily Yip (USA) will go up against Cuba’s Yadira Silva and Bayana
Ferrer.
USA Results:
Women’s Doubles
First Round:
Gao Jun Chang and Jasna Reed (USA) Bye
Tawny Banh and Lily Yip (USA) Bye
Second Round:
Gao Jun Chang and Jasna Reed (USA) def. Johenny Valdez and Carmen Bejaran
(DOM) 4-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2)
Tawny Banh and Lily Yip (USA) def. Carina Murashige and Simone Fernandes
(BRA) 4-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-3, 11-6)
Men’s Doubles
First Round:
Pavel Oxamendy and Boriz Roque (CUB) def. Mark Hazinski and Eric Owens
(USA) 4-1 (11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6)
Photos at:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030807/168/4x1jh.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030807/168/4x1hn.html
John Schneider
Team USA Doubles Players Defeat Cuba and Honduras To Shoot for Gold In
the Women’s Table Tennis Semifinals Tonight
by Najasila Campbell
For Immediate Release
August 8, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Both of the women’s doubles teams
advanced today in the second day of table tennis doubles action, leaving
both U.S. teams in the middle of medal contention with only four teams
remaining in the semifinals.
The doubles pair of Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) and Lily Yip
(Warren, N.J.) beat Cuba 4-0, while Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) and
Jasna Reed (Chicago, Ill.) eliminated Honduras in a 4-1 battle.
Dominican fans were on their feet to cheer on the hometown pair of Xue Wu
and Olga Vila. Wu and Vila battled the Canadian duo of Petra Cada and
Marie-Christine Roussy, defeating them with a score of 4-0. Team USA’s
Banh and Yip will face the tough Dominican team tonight for a shot at the
gold.
Facing the American duo of Chang and Reed tonight will be the Venezuelan
team of Fabiola Ramos and Lusiana Perez. Ramos and Perez defeated Berta
Rodriguez and Sofia Tepes of Chile to advance to the semi-finals tonight.
The action begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Parque del Esta with both teams
competing for their chance to stand on top of the medals stand. The
medals ceremony will take place following the men’s competition.
USA Results:
Women’s Doubles
Tawny Banh and Lily Yip (USA) def. Yadira Silva and Dayana Ferrer (CUB)
4-0 (12-10, 11-5, 14-12, 11-6)
Gao Jun Chang and Jasna Reed (USA) def. Izzwah Medina and Zzwitjhalim
Medina (HON) 4-1 (11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
Author: Najasila Campbell
Organization: Table Tennis Press Officer
Phone: 809-374-9089
John Schneider
Gao Jun Chang/Jasna Reed d. Tawny Banh/Lily Yip 4-1 (7,-7,4,10,7)
Two Brazilian pairs were in the Men's Doubles final. I think that Hugo
Hoyama was one of the gold medal winners. Perhaps he played with Thiago
Monteiro.
JJ4TT
Gao Jun Chang/Jasna Reed d. Tawny Banh/Lily Yip 4-1 (7,-7,4,10,7)<<<
They should have just split it :)
John Schneider
Doubles Win Double; Team USA Women’s Table Tennis Capture Gold and Silver
in Front of Dominican Republic President Mejia
by Najasila Campbell
For Immediate Release
August 8, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – In an All-American finals, the
doubles teams of Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) with Jasna Reed
(Chicago, Ill.) and Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) with Lily Yip
(Warren, N.J.) went head to head, leaving Team USA atop the medals stand
in both gold and silver, respectively.
Chang, who has already qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens,
and her partner Reed worked their magic against their roommates and
friends in the finals with a score of 4-1.
"Everyone wants to win," says Reed. "When we are not playing each other
we are there to cheer each other on. When you get into the finals against
your own team you still press hard and play as if you are going against
someone else."
When asked how this gold affects the singles round of competition, slated
to kick-off tomorrow, Reed is fully aware of the temptation to sit back
and relax.
"Winning the gold in the doubles spoils you because you work hard and
then have to start all over again. When you are the doubles champions it
is hard to shift back to first gear."
Even with the All-American win, the real excitement boiled down to the
semi-finals where the Pan American silver medal winners of Banh and Yip
defeated the Dominican Republic team of Xue Wu and Olga Vila. With
Dominican President Hipolito Mejia on hand, Bahn and Yip rallied from a
1-6 deficit in the third game to upset the hometown favorites and
eliminate them from the gold medal match.
"The Dominican Republic was our big match," says Banh. Referring to the
President’s visit, Banh said she enjoyed the pressure. "I love to beat
the opponent who has home court advantage. That means we did a better job
and that makes it more special."
Up Next:
The women’s singles action will kick-off with Team USA verses Cuba with
Tawny Banh pitted against Anisleyvi Bereau and Jasna Reed versus Glendys
Gonzalez. Lily Yip will compete against Brazil’s Carina Murashige.
Eric Owens will lead the men’s team into singles competition against the
Dominican Republic’s Francisco Mendez, while Mark Hazinski will bat
against Juan Salamanca and number two seed David Zhuang will play
Canada’s Dennis Su.
Women’s Doubles
1. Gao Jun Chang and Jasna Reed (USA)
2. Tawny Banh and Lily Yip (USA)
3. *Fabiola Ramos and Luisana Perez (VEN), Xue Wu and Olga Vila (DOM)
* No play off for third place finishers
Men’s Doubles
1. Hugo Hoyama and Thiago Monteiro (BRA)
2. Bruno Anjos and Gustavo Tsuboi (BRA)
3. Lin Ju and Roberto Brito (DOM), Liu Song and Pablo Tabachnik (ARG)
Eliminated in second round:
Eric Owens and Mark Hazinski (USA)
John Schneider
TABLE TENNIS: Women Win All Four Matches in First Round of Pool Play in
Singles Table Tennis; Team USA Looking for Second Olympic Berth for 2004
Games
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
For Immediate Release
August 9, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Team USA kicked off the first round
of women’s table tennis singles with wins in all four competition groups.
In the first day of pool play the women of Team USA posted wins against
Peru, Cuba, and Brazil.
Shooting for the podium, Team USA is working toward their second U.S.
berth for the 2004 Olympic Games. A singles gold medal win will guarantee
another automatic Olympic qualifier, with the winner traveling to Athens,
Greece along side Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) who has already
secured her position as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team through her
world ranking.
Today’s women’s play began with Chang defeating Peru’s Guadalupe Gomez-
Sanchez. Unable to prepare fully, Chang learned yesterday that the second
match of her pool play would not take place today.
"It was hard to prepare," said Chang. "Yesterday they told me I would be
playing today, and I learned that I will be playing two matches
tomorrow."
The second heat of pool play notched victories from Team USA’s Jasna Reed
(Chicago, Ill.), Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) and Lily Yip (Warren,
N.J.). Both Reed and Banh defeated Cuban women, with Reed taking on
Glendy’s Gonzalez and Banh playing Anisleyvi Bereau.
Reed, who captured gold with Chang in doubles competition yesterday,
finished off Gonzalez 4-0. Cuba’s Bereau tried to come back in the third
game against Banh, but Team USA prevailed with a 4-1 win.
Doubles silver medal winner Yip downed Brazil in four games, with Carina
Murashige fighting in the second game. Murashige forced Yip to push after
tying at 11 points for a 13-11 finish.
Up Next:
In order to rank well in the overall tournament brackets, Team USA must
dominate in their individual groups. Tomorrow Gao Jung Chang will face
two possible medal contenders: Izzwah Medina (HON) and Silvia Morell
(CHI). Jasna Reed will play three matches tomorrow, facing Xlmena Ceron
(BRA), De Ying Wang (ESA) and Ligia Silva (BRA). Alongside Reed will be
Lily Yip, aiming to beat Maria Ramos (VEN), Kibibl Moseley (BAR) and
Sofia Tepes (CHI).
Women’s Results:
Gao Jun Chang (USA) def. Guadalupe Gomez-Sanchez (PER), 4-0 (11-2, 11-4,
11-4, 11-9)
Jasna Reed (USA) def. Glendy’s Gonzalez (CUB), 4-0 (11-2, 11-9, 11-5, 11-
9)
Tawny Banh (USA) def. Anisleyvi Bereau (CUB), 4-1 (11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-
9, 11-6)
Lily Yip (USA) def. Carina Murashige (BRA), 4-1 (11-9, 13-11, 11-8, 11-5)
John Schneider
TABLE TENNIS: Men’s Table Tennis Pool Play Nets Three Wins; Hazinski
Pulls Upset
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
For Immediate Release
August 9, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - With hundreds of spectators, Team
USA’s youngest table tennis athlete, Mark Hazinski (Mishawaka, Ind.),
defeated veteran Juan Salamanca of Chile. His upset places him steps
closer to a strong standing in the final tournament brackets.
"That match is really important because to finish second in the group [in
the pool play] means I play the second guy in another group instead of
the top guy," says the newest and youngest member of the U.S. National
Table Tennis Team. "It is always a little tough the first match to play
and now I have a little confidence going into tomorrow."
USA Table Tennis veteran and defending 1999 Pan American Games singles
gold medalist, David Zhuang (West Windsor, N.J.) played against his arch
nemesis from Canada, Dennis Su. Both native of China playing for their
adopted countries, Zhuang and Su have come head to head numerous times
with both netting big wins. Tonight Zhuang stopped him in his tracks,
finishing him off in a 4-1 win. The pair will likely meet again in this
tournament, with Zhuang shooting for another gold and the automatic
Olympic berth.
A gold medal win in the Pan American Games will guarantee the victor a
spot at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Eric Owens (Houston, Texas) wrapped up the night with a loss to
Guatemala’s Omar Flores. Owens battled with Flores beating him in the
third and fourth games, but Flores proved too strong for Owens today
winning the match 4-2. The only U.S. Men’s Team athlete slated to compete
in two matches today, Owens won by default in his first match today when
the Dominican Republic's own Francisco Mendez failed to attend.
Up Next:
Men’s table tennis will kick-off with No. 4 seeded David Zhuang competing
in two matches tomorrow against Alejandro Rodriguez (CHI) and Trevor
Farley (BAR). Mark Hazinski will battle Gerardo Sanchez (PER), while Eric
Owens will work to defeat Gaston Alto (ARG).
Men’s Results:
Eric Owens (USA) def. Francisco Mendez (DOM), 4-0 (def)
Mark Hazinski (USA) def. Juan Salamanca (CHI), 4-3 (9-11, 14-12, 7-11,
12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9)
David Zhuang (USA) def. Dennis Su (CAN), 4-1 (12-10, 11-9, 15-13, 6-11,
11-6)
Omar Flores (GUA) def. Eric Owens (USA), 4-2 (11-9, 3-11, 12-10, 9-11,
12-10, 11-8)
John Schneider
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
For Immediate Release
August 10, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Team USA’s David Zhuang (West
Windsor, N.J.), Eric Owens (Houston, Texas) and Mark Hazinski (Mishawaka,
Ind.) all netted strong wins today in the second day of men’s singles
table tennis competition. The pool play, which concludes tomorrow, will
establish seeds for the final tournament brackets which kick-off Tuesday.
Zhaung played in two winning matches with stiff competition from both
Chile and Barbados. Battling the moving ball due to air currents in the
Pabellion Tenis de Mesa in Parque del Este, Zhuang and Chile’s Alejuandro
Rodriguez went head to head with USA finishing on top, 4-0. Later in the
day Trevor Farley of Barbados made an attempt to fight back from Team
USA’s dominance capturing the fourth game, but Zhuang ultimately defeated
in the fifth game for a 4-1 win.
Hazinski faced Peru’s Gerardo Sanchez for another perfect 4-0 finish. The
victory secures him a position in the Pan American Games tournament
brackets, but Monday he faces the tough Liu Song of Argentina for the
first place seed.
The men’s U.S. Pan American Field Hockey Team, taking a break before
their final competition of these Games on Tuesday, was on hand to cheer
on Owens in his match against Argentina’s Gaston Alto. The pair battled
for control of the match, with Owens coming out on top 4-0. The final
game was the hardest fought when Alto pushed Owens into a tie and forced
him into a 12-10 victory game.
UP NEXT: In the final day of pool play, Mark Hazinski will set the tone
for Monday with competition against Argentina’s Liu Song, the top seeded
athlete in his group. A win would place him directly in the tournament
brackets, while a loss would give him a second place finish within his
grouping. David Zhuang will take on Lin Ju of the Dominican Republic, and
Eric Owens will pair against Canada’s Pradeeban Peter Paul, the same
player that beat him in last year’s North American Championships.
RESULTS:
David Zhuang (USA) def. Alejuandro Rodriguez (CHI), 4-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-
7, 11-9)
Mark Hazinski (USA) def. Gerardo Sanchez (PER), 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-7,
11-6)
David Zhuang (USA) def. Trevor Farley (BAR), 4-1 (11-7, 11-7, 12-10, 9-
11, 11-8)
Eric Owens (USA) def. Gasto Alto (ARG), 4-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10)
John Schneider
Shooting for No.1 Seed in Each Group
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – With another outstanding day of
competition, the 2003 U.S. Women’s Pan American Games Table Tennis Team
posted 11 victories today, with Gao Jun Chang winning two and Jasna Reed,
Lily Yip and Tawny Banh winning three a piece. The wins set Team USA up
for No. 1 seeds in each of their individual pool play groups.
Posting victories against De Ying Wang (ESA) and Ligia Silva (BRA) late
in the evening, Jasna Reed (Chicago, Ill.) played in a heated battle
against Chile’s Ximena Ceron winning 4-3 in a tough battle in the
afternoon session. Alternating in wins, Jasna captured the first game
with an 11-6 win, but Ceron stayed on top of her with an 11-7 win in the
second game. Reed posted two back-to-back game victories before Ceron
went tit-for-tat and returned with two wins. Finally tired of the back
and forth, Reed downed Ceron 11-4 in the final game.
The first table hosted Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) who defeated
Izzwah Medina of Honduras. Her 4-1 win started intense with Medina tying
with Chang to ultimately claim a 12-10 win. Each subsequent game was
awarded to Chang who finished her off with an 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 and 11-9
sweep. Chang continued on in the evening session with a win over Chile’s
Silvia Morell in an easy 4-0 finish for the night.
Lily Yip (Warren, N.J.) completed an easy 4-0 win over Venezuela’s Maria
Ramos in the morning session, but her evening sessions were full of
excitement. Yip, a table tennis coach in her home state of New Jersey,
received some resistance from Kibibi Moseley of Barbados. After downing
Moseley in the first two games 11-7, 11-7, Yip fought tooth and nail
before giving up a win 10-12. She quickly rallied for two consecutive
wins to finish the match 4-1. Her final match was posted against Sofia
Tepes of Chile, where the two tied in the fourth game. Yip won the match
4-1.
Winning two matches 4-0, Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) made today’s
table tennis competition look easy. Her attack on Sonia Ramirez of El
Salvador earned her the first win. Banh posted 44 points in the match,
while Ramirez was only able to secure 13 points in four games. She then
went on to beat Brazil’s Mariany Nonaka with little resistance. Her final
win was against Chile’s Sofia Tepes, 4-1.
Up Next: Monday morning Team USA will find out the current standings per
group, determining each athlete’s position in the overall tournament
brackets. No. 1 seeds receive a bye into the top tournament brackets,
while second place players will compete against the remaining third and
fourth place seeds for tournament elimination. If all of the women are
seeded No. 1, they will have a day of rest before picking up competition
in the first round of single elimination play Tuesday.
Women’s Results:
Gao Jun Chang (USA) def. Izzwah Medina(HON), 4-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-
8, 11-9)
Tawny Banh (USA) def. Sonia Ramirez (ESA), 4-0 (11-7, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3)
Lily Yip (USA) def. Maria Ramos (VEN), 4-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3)
Jasna Reed (USA) def. Ximena Ceron (CHI), 4-3 (11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-
11, 9-11, 11-4)
Gao Jun Chang (USA) def. Silvia Morell (CHI), 4-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 11-
5)
Tawny Banh (USA) def. Mariany Nonaka (BRA), 4-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10)
Lily Yip (USA) def. Kibibi Moseley (BAR), 4-1 (11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8,
11-5)
Jasna Reed (USA) def. De Ying Wang (ESA), 4-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-2, 11-4)
Tawny Banh (USA) def. Eliana Gonzalez (PER), 4-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5)
Lily Yip (USA) def. Sofia Tepes (CHI), 4-1 (11-5, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-
8)
Jasna Reed (USA) def. Ligia Silva (BRA), 4-0 (11-9, 11-7, 12-10, 11-9)
John Schneider
Single Elimination Tournament
by Najasila Campbell - 2003 Pan American Games Table Tennis Press Officer
For Immediate Release
August 11, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – With wins from all three U.S. men in
the final day of pool play, single elimination tournament play will kick-
off Tuesday afternoon with Team USA seeking an automatic berth to the
2004 Olympic Games.
Working to maintain his position in the pool play, Eric Owens (Houston,
Texas) went through an intense seven game stretch against Cuba’s Dimeys
Gongora. Gongora posted three quick wins against Team USA, 11-7, 11-9,
11-2, but Owens would not be defeated, rallying four strong games to
finish 4-3.
Mark Hazinski (Mishawaka, Ind.) posted a victory against neighboring
Mexico. Downing Guillermo Munoz 4-1, Hazinski secured himself a second
seed in the tournament pool play, and will compete tomorrow against a
rowdy crowd and the Dominican Republic favorite Lin Ju.
David Zhuang (West Windsor, N.J.) netted a quick win over Jonatan Pino
from Venezela. In a short match, Zhuang smashed Pino in the first two
games, 11-5, 11-9. The final two games were neck and neck with Zhuang
winning 12-10 in both.
UP NEXT: Tuesday marks the first round of single elimination tournament
play. In the 6:00 p.m. games, David Zhuang and Eric Owens will play
against Liu Song (ARG)* and Boris Roque (CUB), respectively. In the 7:00
p.m. play, Team USA’s rookie Mark Hazinski will come face to face with
Lin Ju of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican crowds have reached up to
1,000 per night to cheer on the hometown team, and Tuesday should be no
exception.
Men’s Results:
David Zhuang (USA) def. Jonatan Pino (VEN), 4-0 (11-5, 11-9, 12-10, 12-
10)
Eric Owens (USA) def. Dimeys Gongora (CUB), 4-3 (7-11, 9-11, 2-11, 11-8,
13-11, 12-10, 11-9)
Mark Hazinski (USA) def. Guillermo Munoz (MEX), 4-1 (11-2, 5-11, 11-7,
11-3, 11-7)
* David Zhuang vs Liu Song is a rematch of the 1999 Pan Am Games final,
which D.Z. won 3-1 (21,-22,20,20)
HeSaidBye
>Mark Hazinski (Mishawaka, Ind.) posted a victory against neighboring
>Mexico. Downing Guillermo Munoz 4-1, Hazinski secured himself a second
>seed in the tournament pool play,
I'm confused. How could Mark be second seed when David Zhuang is higher rated
and #1 on the US team?
John Schneider
hesa...@aol.com says...
round robin group.
JJ4TT
it says that David is seeded #4.
Is he seeded #2 in the Men's Singles draw?
"Eric Owens will lead the men’s team into singles competition against the
Dominican Republic’s Francisco Mendez, while Mark Hazinski will bat
against Juan Salamanca and ** number two seed David Zhuang ** will play
Canada’s Dennis Su."
Doubles Win Double; Team USA Women’s Table Tennis Capture Gold and Silver in
JJ4TT
Are the 2003 Pan Am Men and Women's Single Draws listed anywhere on the
internet?
Thank you.
"Up Next:
Men’s table tennis will kick-off with No. 4 seeded David Zhuang competing
in two matches tomorrow against Alejandro Rodriguez (CHI) and Trevor
Farley (BAR). Mark Hazinski will battle Gerardo Sanchez (PER), while Eric
Owens will work to defeat Gaston Alto (ARG)."
John Schneider
says...
> In this article it says that David Zhuang is Number 2 seed. In another article
> it says that David is seeded #4.
>
> Is he seeded #2 in the Men's Singles draw?
>
According to current world rankings, the top seeds in Men's Singles are:
1. Liu Song
2. Hugo Hoyama
3. Thiago Monteiro
4. David Zhuang
5. Reiner Sosa
6. Gustavo Tsuboi
7. Bence Csaba
8. Pradeeban Peter Paul
However, Lin Ju is clearly better than his #396 world ranking. Lin
defeated David Zhuang in their RR which is why David has to face top seed
Liu Song in the first single elimination round.
JJ4TT
John Schneider
Pan Am Games; Heavy Practice Scheduled before Departure
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
Table Tennis Team was eliminated from tournament play on Tuesday. All
three were dealt losses to earn a day of fun in the sun in Santo Domingo.
Eric Owens battled with Cuba’s Boris Roque to fall in the fifth match 1-
4. David Zhuang went head to head with Liu Song from Argentina, pushing
the match into six games. Zhuang’s efforts were thwarted when Song
derailed his two game winning streak in the fourth and fifth game to
eliminate him from tournament play with an 11-5 game. Mark Hazinski
earned his way into the tournament on Sunday with an thrilling defeat of
Argentina. Facing the Dominican Republic’s Lin Ju with all eyes in the
stadium on the Ju, Hazinski fought hard only to lose the match 4-0.
UP NEXT: In addition to returning to Parque de Estas, dragging all
available athletes from the village to watch the women go for the gold,
the men’s U.S. team will undergo a heavy practice at Boca Chica with
Coach Daniel Seemiller at their side. The "practice" will be a last
minute vacation for the crew, as Eric and Mark return for school for the
fall and David returns to work.
TABLE TENNIS: Women Post Three Wins To Advance Into Quarterfinals;
Americans to Face Each Other for Elimination
by Najasila Campbell - Table Tennis Press Officer
For Immediate Release
August 12, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – After winning every match since the
singles pool play began in the 2003 Pan American Games, Team USA advances
three women to the quarterfinals and posts its first loss. In a seven
game rally, Lily Yip (Warren, N.J.) was stopped by Venezuela, 4-3. On
Wednesday, two American women will battle each other for a right to play
in the quarterfinals, while Gao Jun Chang will go up against Cuba.
Yip, a 1996 Olympian and 2003 Pan American doubles silver medalist, met
Venezuela’s Fabiola Ramos in the first match of the day. Bantering back
and forth, the pair ended up 4-3 in favor of Venezuela. In the final game
of the match, Yip posted six unforced errors to hand Ramos the win.
Yip’s teammates earned positions in the quarterfinals, leaving two
American’s to play against each other. Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.)
eliminated Honduras from the medal running, by netting a win against
Izzwah Medina. Her 4-0 win gives her a one-way ticket to a match with
USA’s Jasna Reed (Chicago, Ill.).
Reed, who defeated Peru’s Marisol Espineira 4-1 Tuesday night, will meet
Banh in the match at 10:00 a.m. in Parque del Estas at the Table Tennis
Pavilion. The pairing guarantees the U.S. women’s team a place in
Wednesday night’s semi-finals.
On the other side of the brackets, Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) was
able to send Cuba’s Yadi Silva packing with an easy 4-0 victory. Chang,
who posted an 11-6, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4 win over Silva, will face Fabiola
Ramos of Venezuela on Wednesday.
UP NEXT: If you are in Santo Domingo Come Support Team USA as they shoot
for the gold and an automatic Olympic berth into the 2004 Athens Games.
The winners of the 10:00 a.m. quarterfinals matches will advance to the
semifinals at 5:00 p.m. Gold medal finals will take place at 7:00 p.m.
John Schneider
Secures Medal
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – In an easy four game win over
Venezuela, Gao Jun Chang advanced herself into the 2003 Pan American
Games Table Tennis semifinals, while two American athletes went tit-for-
tat to continue in these games. Netting two wins has secured a medal for
Team USA, with only four athletes remaining in the running for gold and
an automatic berth into the Olympic Games.
Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) downed Venezuela in a four game stretch
finishing off Fabiola Ramos 11-4, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5. Chang quickly wrapped
up the match to advance to the Wednesday night semifinals to face Chile’s
Berta Rodriguez. Rodriguez earned a spot in the semifinals match by
downing USA’s neighboring Petra Cada of Canada.
A gold medal win by Chang will eliminate an automatic berth into the
Olympics for the Americas, as Chang has already qualified with her world
ranking.
Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) and Jasna Reed (Chicago, Ill.) fought in
a seven game match to establish who would advance into the table tennis
semifinals, with Banh coming out on top.
In game one the pair played evenly, with Banh downing Reed 11-9. The
second game Reed fought back with a quick 11-3 win, only to have Banh
take the third game into extra points to win 14-12. The pair continued
back and forth, but in game five Banh was able to secure her third win of
the match, 11-9, taking the lead 3-2. With both athletes refusing to be
put out of the medal running, Reed and Banh both captured an additional
game forcing the team into game seven. Banh ultimately took the prize and
the ticket into the semifinals downing Reed 11-7 in the final game.
Reed will be looking for crowd support as she faces the Dominican
Republic’s Xue Wu tonight, the country’s table tennis queen. With crowd
estimates reaching 1,000, and chances for Dominican President Hipolito
Mejia to cheer on Wu, Reed will look to the stands in her quest for gold.
Women’s Results
Gao Jun Chang (USA) def. Fabiola Ramos (VEN), 4-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-2, 11-
5)
Berta Rodriguez (CHI) def. Petra Cada (CAN), 4-2 (10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 7-
11, 11-8, 11-7)
Tawny Banh (USA) def. Jasna Reed (USA), 4-3 (11-9, 3-11, 14-12, 9-11, 9-
11, 11-9, 11-7)
Xue Wu (DOM) def. Chris Xu (CAN), 4-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3)
John Schneider
js2100[NOSPAM]@pacbell.net says...
> TABLE TENNIS: Gao Jun Chang to Face Chile in Semifinal Match; Team USA
> Secures Medal
>
> by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
>
> For Immediate Release
> August 13, 2003
>
>
>
> a seven game match to establish who would advance into the table tennis
> semifinals, with Banh coming out on top.
>
> In game one the pair played evenly, with Banh downing Reed 11-9. The
> second game Reed fought back with a quick 11-3 win, only to have Banh
> take the third game into extra points to win 14-12. The pair continued
> back and forth, but in game five Banh was able to secure her third win of
> the match, 11-9, taking the lead 3-2. With both athletes refusing to be
> put out of the medal running, Reed and Banh both captured an additional
> game forcing the team into game seven. Banh ultimately took the prize and
> the ticket into the semifinals downing Reed 11-7 in the final game.
>
> Reed will be looking for crowd support as she faces the Dominican
> Republic’s Xue Wu tonight, the country’s table tennis queen. With crowd
> estimates reaching 1,000, and chances for Dominican President Hipolito
> Mejia to cheer on Wu, Reed will look to the stands in her quest for gold.
>
JJ4TT
John Schneider
Liu Song (ARG) d. Boris Roque (CUB) 4-0 (11,5,7,7)
Thiago Monteiro (BRA) d. Gustavo Tsuboi (BRA) 4-1 (7,3,7,-9,11)
Lin Ju (DOM) d. Pradeeban Peter Paul (CAN) 4-2 (-9,4,3,9,-6,8)
Hugo Hoyama (BRA) d. Juan Salamanca (CHI) 4-3 (-7,-7,7,-7,4,8,4)
Note: Bence Csaba was defeated by Monteiro 4-1 in the round of 16
John Schneider
Chang Jun Gao (USA) d. Berta Rodriguez (CHI) 4-0 (5,2,3,11)
Wu Xue (DOM) d. Tawny Banh (USA) 4-1 (4,9,-7,5,5)
John Schneider
Thiago Monteiro (BRA) d. Liu Song (ARG) 4-1 (7,3,7,-9,11)
Lin Ju (DOM) d. Hugo Hoyama (BRA) 4-2 (6,7,-10,7,-7,8)
John Schneider
Chang Jun Gao (USA) d. Wu Xue (DOM) 4-3 (9,8,-7,-9,6,-5,7)
John Schneider
Lin Ju (DOM) d. Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 4-2 (10,12,-5,6,-8,9)
Lin, who now qualifies for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, is the
looper/chopper who was known as Jin Ju at the Paris Worlds and Ju Ling at
the U.S. Open.
John Schneider
Was for the U.S."
by Najasila Campbell - U.S. Olympic Committee
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Gao Jun Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.),
1999 Pan American Champion and 2003 Doubles Champion, captured the gold
in the 2003 Pan American Games Table Tennis Tournament. She defeated the
Dominican Republic’s Xue Wu in a heated 4-3 match.
In sweltering heat where the audience waved fans as if in a sauna, the
two women fought till the bitter end. In game one Chang quickly reeled in
points, capturing the first point of the game and setting the tone for
the remainder of the match. Earning five straight points in the beginning
helped her to stop the Dominican in her tracks to finish 11-9.
Watching Chang compete against the same woman that eliminated her from
the competition, Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) led a small cheering
section for the U.S. with Jasna Reed (Chicago, Ill.), Lily Yip (Warren,
N.J.) and the entire men’s table tennis team. The cheerleaders braved the
1,500-person crowd to push Chang forward with chants of "USA, USA," as
Dominican fans stood in disbelief before returning the chant "Xu Wu, Xu
Wu."
"I kept hearing come on USA, come on USA, and I was like 'come on USA,'"
remarked Chang. "I just heard them so clear... it was like 'yes, I have
to fight, I have to fight.'"
Game two helped to calm the Dominicans down, when Chang and Wu went back
and forth with the USA coming out on top, 11-8. The third and fourth
games tied up the competition, as Dominican Republic edged the U.S. to
tie up the match, 2-2. The crowd fought back just as hard with chants and
screams, holding up the Dominican before Chang posted another 11-6 win.
The final two games were tit-for-tat with Wu taking USA 11-5, and Chang
finishing off the match 11-7. Since Chang’s world ranking has already put
her into the 2004 Olympic Games, the Pan American countries will forfeit
the automatic berth granted to the region.
"I am already in the Olympics, so this one doesn’t change anything for
me, explains Chang. "This win was for the U.S., not for myself. I play
for the USA so I have got to fight."
"Sometimes the crowd can win the match for you," says the Head Women’s
Coach and USA Table Tennis Executive Director Doru Gheorghe. "I was happy
we had a few people cheering for us."
"For our team we just kept saying that we had to stop her," said Chang
after the match. That is exactly what she did.
Women’s Results:
1. Gao Jun Chang, USA
2. Xue Wu, DOM
3. Tawny Banh, USA
Berta Rodriguez, CHI
Men’s Results:
1. Ju Lin, DOM
2. Thiago Monteiro, BRA
3. Liu Song, ARG
Hugo Hoyama, BRA
Overall Medal Standings
1. USA, 4 (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
2. BRA, 4 (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
3. DOM, 4 (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
4. ARG, 2 (0 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze)
5. CHI, 2 (0 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze)
watersl...@erols.com
Congrats Gao!!!!
Julian