Santo Domingo.– Some 90 table tennis players from 18 Latin American nations will fight for 11 places in August's Olympics in the sport's Latin American Pre-Olympic Tournament that began yesterday in Santo Domingo.     

There are five places for men and six for women on offer as well as tickets to the World Championship due in Belgium.     

Dominican Luis Lin Ju already has a place because he is Pan-American champion, but the country also seeks team places. Dominican press believe that Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Chile and Venezuela each have a good chance of winning places.    

The tournament started with an official opening ceremony at Parque del Este's table tennis pavilion, which Luis Mejia, of the Dominican Olympic Committee, has described as in excellent conditions.     

He said that all Dominicans linked to table tennis had worked hard to ensure the contest would be successful from start to finish.