(By Steve Hopkins)

Lima, Peru is host this week to the ITTF Pan American Championships.  The singles events have already progressed to the Semifinals, with the final matches scheduled for Monday.

In Women’s Singles, the top two seeds are Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz and USA’s Lily Zhang, and each has cruised thus far.  Diaz has won all three of her matches 4-0, topping Echeverry (COL), Yamada (BRA), and Canada’s Ivy Liao.  Diaz will face Brazil’s Carolina Kumahara in the Semifinal tomorrow.  In the other half of the draw, Lily Zhang has also rolled through three matches – topping Casas (ECU), Tong (CAN), and Vega (CHI).  Lily Zhang will face Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi.

In Men’s Singles, Hugo Calderano was the top seed – and he advanced to the Semifinal with a win over Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador in the Quarterfinals.  Hugo will face teammate Vitor Ishiy in the Semifinals tomorrow.  In the other half of the draw it was Marcelo Aguirre advancing to face Canada’s Eugene Wang.  Wang topped second seeded Gustavo Tsuboi 4-0 in their Round of 16 match.  Aguirre topped Brazil’s Eric Jouti, and USA’s Kai Zhang on his way to the Semifinal.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.