Diego Elías is emerging as a finalist. He defeated the American Todd Harrity and made it to the semifinals of Squash on the second day of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. The Peruvian is ranked 8th in the world and promises to win the gold medal.
Elías maintained the advantage throughout the 3 sets, winning 12-10, 11-5, and 11-5, respectively. In an interview with RPP, he admitted that nerves got the better of him during the first set, but he managed to recover for the remaining two.
"I started well, but the nerves got to me a bit. I played much better in the last two sets. In these Pan American and South American championships, rankings don't matter much because you're playing for your country," Elías said to RPP.
He also expressed satisfaction with his qualification for the semifinals, stating that he will seek to reach the podium. "Very happy with how I played today, in a quite difficult match, but fortunately I was able to win in three sets to recover well for the doubles match," he affirmed.
The Peruvian will face Mexican César Salazar on Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 a.m. Elías commented on the friendship he shares with his Mexican competitor, but it won't stop him from achieving his goal. "I have faced him on the circuit, we are good friends. I hope to recover and be at 100 percent. My goal is the gold, but everything is one match at a time," he concluded.
► Firmly on the path to gold: Diego Elías is already in the semifinal of Squash at Lima 2019
► Great start! Peruvian Diego Elías defeated Guatemalan Edwin Enriquez 3-0 in his debut at Lima 2019
► Already familiar: This is how Edwin Enriquez, the opponent Diego Elías will face in the Round of 16 of Squash at Videna, plays [VIDEO]
► For a spot in the semifinals! Diego Elías will face Egyptian Tarek Momen in the CIB PSA World Tour Finals