Gonsalves strikes silver at Pan Am TT championships
Stabroek News
July 18, 2002
Pint sized Zach Gonsalves achieved the biggest success of his career when he looped and smashed his way to a silver medal finish in the under-13 category at the junior Pan Am Games in Fort Lauderdale, USA.
Gonsalves, twice under-14 champion at the annual Goddard's tournament in Barbados, took his prowess further afield with a blazing performance which saw him eliminating the Latin America's number one player Josue Ernesto Donado before losing to Juan Vila jr. son of former Caribbean top player Juan Vila of the Dominican Republic.
Gonsalves' performance and the play of former national junior champion Anson Bishpham were the only bright spots on a moderate display by local racquet wielders at the high level tournament.
Bishpham, who campaigns in Canada placed fourth in the under-22 years category behind eventual winner Thiero Farias Monteiro, Jose Miguel Ramirez and Hugo Hanashro.
Coach of the team Sydney Christophe was impressed with the play of Gonsalves and Bishpham.
Gonsalves yesterday said he felt proud of his achievement especially his win over Donado in the first round.
"I feel proud of myself for beating the number one ranked under-13 Latin American player in the first round," he declared.
Gonsalves also defeated US player Sergy Gutkin who is sponsored by BUTTERFLY table tennis company in the round robin finals.
His fine performance saw him catching the eyes of the president of the Latin American Table tennis Union Miguel Angelo Delgado who is also a vice president of the International Table Tennis Federation. As a result Gonsalves has been granted a scholarship offer of one month's free training in Brazil.
Another player Michell John placed seventh in the girls under-13 category.