No Family Gathering, but Success in Guam the Perfect Birthday Present

October 20, 2012

Courtesy of ITTF

The family gathers. Friends from school arrive and everybody gathers to sing "Happy Birthday"; there's no place like home.

However, for one young lady, this year birthday celebrations will be hundreds of miles away from home, at the other side of the world, away from family, friends and relatives.

Puerto Rico's Adriana Diaz will celebrate her 12th birthday on Wednesday October 31, 2012, not at home in Utuado but in Mangilao.

She will be totally embroiled in the ITTF Challenge, which starts in Guam on Saturday October 27th and concludes on Sunday November 4, 2012.

Leads Latin America
Adriana Diaz, one of the youngest players competing in the nine day event, leads the Latin American Girls' Team; she lines up alongside Brazil's Leticia Nakada, Ecuador's Eunice Galvez and El Salvador's Emme Arias.

Focus of Attention
A member of the ITTF World Hopes Team in 2011 and 2012, Adriana Diaz is the center of media attention in the Caribbean island; especially following her success in the recent success on the ITTF Junior Circuit when she won the Cadet Girls' Singles title at the Scotiabank Canadian Junior Open.

Currently she is Puerto Rico's pin-up girl and was featured prominently on www.primerahora.com.

Toughest Match
At the age of 11 years, she became one of the youngest ever winners in the ten year history of the program; only matched by China's Xu Ke and Japan's Mima Ito.

"My toughest match in was the final against Isabel Chu from United States", reflected Adriana Diaz. "I think I won because my service and first attack was strong and I was strong mentally."

Ready for the challenge ahead in Guam
Photo courtesy of Marangely Gonzalez

Aguilas de La Montaña Club
Adriana Diaz practices at the Aguilas de La Montaña Club in Utuado.

She started to play when she was four years old being encouraged by father Bladimir, who is the club's coach and mother Marangely; together they have established a flourishing organization in the town.

Table Tennis Family
A table tennis family without doubt; Adriana has two elders sisters, Melanie is 16 years old, Gabriela is 14 years old while younger sister Fabiola is nine years old.

Adriana and Melanie are members the Puerto Rico Women's National Team, Gabriela is a member of the Under 13 National Team and Fabiola, the Under 11 team.

No Time for Birthdays
Three sisters who play has an advantage; especially for Adriana who practices three hours each day from Monday to Thursday and five hours on Saturday and Sunday. She has no shortage of practice partners!

Just looking at that schedule, it's a good job she's in Guam for her birthday; in Utuado she's have no time for celebrations!

Service and the first attack brought success in Canada
Photo courtesy of Marangely Gonzalez

Grateful for Support
Nevertheless, just like the rest of the family, Adriana thrives on the adrenalin rush from playing table tennis and is grateful for the support received from both the ITTF Hopes Program and Butterfly whose clothing she is proud to wear and whose rackets she is delighted to use.

"The ITTF World Hopes Program has helped me in a lot of ways", said Adriana Diaz. "I'm a member of the team for a second year and the training I have received has paid off."

Most certainly that is true; in addition to her success in Canada, earlier this year she won the Cadet Girls' Singles title at the Latin American Junior and Cadet Championships in Mexico.

Increased Opportunities
"Travelling with the ITTF World Hopes Team has given me an opportunity to train and compete in different scenarios around the world, with different styles of play", she added. "It has really helped increase my experience."

Such experience may well prove invaluable and for a player from Latin America or even the whole of Pan America, absolutely vital.

Defensive Problems
There are no defensive players of note in that part of the world and players; competing against the backspin artiste can be a nightmare for Pan Americans.

Brazil's Caroline Kumahara and Ariel Hsing of the United States are outstanding prospects but in recent months both have suffered against defenders in major competitions, accepted against quality defenders from Europe.

At the London Olympic Games, Caroline Kumahara was beaten by England's Joanna Parker; at the Volkswagen Women's World Cup the backspin skills of Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus proved too much for Ariel Hsing.

An effective backhand, vital in Guam
Photo courtesy of Marangely Gonzalez

More Complete Player
The wider the variety of styles to face, the more the complete player may emerge and, to succeed in Guam, the more complete, the more chance of success; the tournament in will test that scenario. However, Adriana Diaz is ready and savoring the challenge.

"I will do my best", smiled Adriana Diaz and you can do no more.

A Sense of Pride
"I'm really looking forward to Guam; to represent not only Utuado and Puerto Rico but all Latin America with pride", concluded Adriana Diaz. "I want to finish amongst the top 10 players, of course I know that it is very hard road to the top but I will work hard to achieve her goal."

There is no easy route to the top and the top Chinese players will all tell you that you must make sacrifices.

No Presents
A 12th birthday a thousand miles from home; no party, no cards, no candles on a cake and no presents! Don't cry for me Puerto Rico!

I suspect the Guam Table Tennis Federation might just find a solution and a top ten finish; now that would be some present!

Adriana Diaz dreaming of Guam or her 12th birthday?
Photo courtesy of Marangely Gonzalez