Brian Yang and Beiwen Zhang captured their first titles at the Pan Am Individual Championships as the 2021 edition wound to a close yesterday in Guatemala.
Nineteen-year-old Yang took the men’s singles title when his opponent Jason Anthony Ho-Shue retired after hurting his knee with Yang leading 21-13 18-10. Ho-Shue, the 2016 champion, also could not take the court for his men’s doubles match with Nyl Yakura, and the match was awarded to USA’s Phillip Chew/Ryan Chew.
Zhang held off an impressive challenge from Canadian teen Rachel Chan, who had upset second seed Iris Wang in the semifinals. Zhang took the title beating Chan 21-14 21-18.
Rachel Honderich/Kristen Tsai won their third title in women’s doubles with a comfortable 21-12 21-7 result over USA’s Francesca Corbett/Allison Lee.
Joshua Hurlburt-Yu/Josephine Wu defended their mixed doubles crown, seeing off Guatemala’s Christopher Alexander Martinez Salvador/Mariana Isabel Paiz Quan 21-18 21-18.