Mexico positioned to sweep gold after winning doubles semi-finals at 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexicans have a chance to sweep the gold medals at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, as both their Women’s and Men’s Doubles teams won their respective semi-final matches Thursday.

In Women's Doubles, Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated the Venezuelan team of Mariana Tobon and Ishlhey Paredes, 15-6, 15-6. Their opponents will be the young Guatemalan team of Ana Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, which is a bit of a surprise, as they defeated a veteran Colombian team of Cristina Amaya and Maria Gomez, 15-12, 15-12.

On the Men’s Doubles side, it’s a replay of four years ago, as Mexico will play the Dominican Republic in the final. Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno defeated Venezuelans Cesar Castro and Cesar Castillo, 15-6, 15-5, in one semi-final while the Dominican team of Luis Perez and Junior Rodriguez beat Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer of Guatemala, 15-12, 15-12, in the other semi.

Thus, Javier Moreno and Luis Perez face off against each other once again, but with different partners. Four years ago Moreno and Polo Gutierrez defeated Perez and Simon Perdomo in the Men’s Doubles final in Puerto Rico.

Guatemala is doing one better in Women’s Doubles than they did four years ago, when Marie Gomar and Luci Zachrisson got to the semi-finals, where they lost to Salas and Susana Acosta.

Four years ago Martinez was 11. But now she’s the two time reigning U14 Girl’s World Junior Champion. Also this year she and Rodriguez were the silver medalists in U18 Girl’s Doubles at World Juniors.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's – Doubles - Semi-finals

Paola LONGORIA & Samantha SALAS (Mexico) d. Mariana TOBON & Ishlhey PAREDES (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-6
Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala) d. Cristina AMAYA & Maria GOMEZ (Colombia), 15-12, 15-14

Women's – Doubles - Final

Paola LONGORIA & Samantha SALAS (Mexico) v. Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala)

Men – Doubles - Semi-finals

Alvaro BELTRAN & Javier MORENO (Mexico) d. Cesar CASTRO & Cesar CASTILLO (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-5
Luis PEREZ & Junior RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin GALICIA & Christian WER (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-12

Men – Doubles - Final

Alvaro BELTRAN & Javier MORENO (Mexico) v. Luis PEREZ & Junior RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic)

Follow the bouncing ball….