CANJURA IN SIGHT OF MILESTONE – PAN AM 2023
Text by BWF
Uriel Francisco Canjura Artiga moved to within one win of becoming the first player from El Saldavor to win a title at the Pan Am Individual Championships when he beat Kevin Cordon in the semifinals on Friday in Kingston, Jamaica.
Three-time champion Cordon held off Artiga in a topsy-turvy first game, saving four game points, but was outplayed in the second and third, 20-22 21-12 21-14. Artiga has a tough challenge in the final, in the form of 2021 champion and world No.29 Brian Yang, who edged Ygor Coelho 16-21 21-14 21-19.
In women’s singles, five-time champion Michelle Li takes on 2021 champion Beiwen Zhang in a repeat of the 2022 final. Michelle Li held off a strong challenge by Iris Wang, 21-15 12-21 21-14, while USA’s Zhang had an easier time against younger compatriot Lauren Lam, 21-11 21-12.
Mixed doubles defending champions Ty Alexander Lindeman and Josephine Wu are in sight of a double. The Canadian duo overcame Brazil’s Fabricio Farias/Jaqueline Lima in a tight match, 23-21 22-20, and face compatriots Joshua-Hurlburt Yu/Rachel Honderich in the final. Honderich has six previous titles, in all three of her categories.
There will be new champions in men’s doubles and women’s doubles. Lindeman/Kevin Lee take on Dong Adam/Nyl Yakura, while in the women’s doubles final, Canada’s Catherine Choi/Josephine Wu are up against USA’s Francesca Corbett/Allison Lee.