Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez Claims Pan Am Games Men’s Singles Gold
from DailySquashReport.com
photo courtesy Steve Cubbins
October 18, 2011 - Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia defeated Mexico’s Cesar Salazar 11-7 11-9 11-4 yesterday to capture the 2011 Pan American Games men’s singles gold medal.
Rodriguez, the 25-year-old World #38 from Bogota, swept through the four-match draw without the loss of a game.
Earlier in the day, Rodriguez bested Montreal’s Shawn Delierre 11-7 11-3 11-7 in a testy match that reportedly saw Delierre in some heated discussions with the ref.
"The pace he plays at is so fast, you're forced to think faster, forced to get on the ball a little faster," Delierre was quoted as saying. "He's cracking it, double bounce, dead in the back. So I have to almost jump into every shot."
Rodriguez is riding momentum from the recent US Open, where he outlasted tough Egyptian Mohammed Reda in an 82-minute first round before losing to world number 10 Thierry Lincou of France by a respectable 13-11 in the fourth.
In the first semifinal, Cesar Salazar dominated his twin brother Arturo, 11-2 11-8 11-2, to reach the final, where he settled for the silver medal.
The US men’s medal hopes in the singles competition had been previously eliminated when Chris Gordon fell to Arturo Salazar in a four-game quarterfinal.
2011 Pan Am Games - Gold Medal Men's Singles Final:
Miguel Rodriguez (Colombia) d Cesar Salazar (Mexico) 11-7 11-9 11-4
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