Taiwanese-American Table Tennis Star Chen Yi-Yi Sweeps Four Golds at Pan-American Youth Championships

Chen Yi-Yi ended her youth career in dominant fashion, collecting all four U19 women’s gold medals at the Pan-American Youth Table Tennis Championships in Guatemala.

The 19-year-old Taiwanese-American won the women’s team, singles, doubles and mixed doubles events. She defended her singles title and became the tournament’s biggest winner, adding another major haul to the seven gold medals she captured at the U.S. Championships in July.

Chen first helped the U.S. team defeat Brazil 3-0 in the U19 women’s team final alongside Ma Ruohan, Chen Chia-ying and Aspati. On the final day, she partnered Vietnam-born Daniel Tran to beat a Peruvian pair in the mixed doubles final, winning 11-4, 13-11 and 19-17.

She then teamed with China-born Ma Ruohan in the women’s doubles final. The pair defeated Chen Chia-ying and Aspati 11-7, 11-6 and 11-9 in what the report described as an all-American matchup.

Chen completed the sweep by beating Ma 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 and 11-9 in the singles final. Ranked 68th in the world, she had won one gold, two silvers and one bronze at last year’s championships. The report attributed her improved showing to a year of experience in international senior competitions. Chen Chia-ying also has Taiwanese roots, having been born in the United States but educated and trained in Taiwan.