In 1524, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro set off for South America in search of El Dorado, the legendary lost city of gold. Nearly half a millennium later, an 11-year-old girl seems to have found it. While Pizarro did plunder plenty of Incan gold in Peru, it turns out he was looking a bit too far south. The true El Dorado is in Cuenca, Ecuador, the lofty Andean city hosting the 2021 ITTF Under 11 and Under 13 Pan American Championships. This week, Team USA's Tashiya Piyadasa (pictured) has emerged from each event she entered regaled in the coveted element. On Wednesday, Piyadasa teamed with Geetha Krishna to win the Under 11 Girls Teams title, 3-1 over their countrywomen Abigail Yu and Tiana Piyadasa (yes, her younger sister—awkward!). Despite losing in doubles, Piyadasa's two singles wins were the difference in the hard-fought championship. With one title seized, it would be four more days until Piyadasa would have more golden opportunities. Today, after what must have seemed like an eternity, said opportunities finally came, and in rapid succession. Business commenced in earnest at 3:00 local time. Piyadasa teamed up with Kef Noorani to win the mixed doubles title, 3-0 over compatriots Abigail Yu and Maxim Mouchinski. Then, at 4:00, the Under 11 Girls Doubles final was a rematch of the teams finals. Piyadasa rejoined forces with Geetha Krishna to take on Abigail Yu and Tiana Piyadasa. Although doubles had been their Achilles' heel in the previous encounter, Krishna and older sister Tashiya found the winning formula just in time. Trailing one game to two, they rallied to win the last two games, each by a score of 12-10. Hardly had Piyadasa caught her breath when the marquee matchup, the Under 11 Girls Singles final, commenced promptly at 5:00. In the semis, Tashiya Piyadasa was forced to dissolve her auriferous partnership Geetha Krishna with an all-business, nothing personal 3-0 drubbing. This set her up with a title match and a shot at perfection. In Piyadasa's way, however, stood Karolayn Maldonado of the host country. For an added degree of motivation, Maldonado had beaten Tashiya's little sister Tiana Piyadasa in the semifinals. Buoyed by the home crowd, Maldonado raced to a 2-1 lead. Piyadasa, whether motivated to avenge her little sister or simply to win all the marbles for herself, rallied tp win the last two by comfortable margins, (9-11, 11-3, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4). Just like Pizarro, Tashiya Piyadasa overcame superior numbers to claim Andean gold. Now that the little conquistadora has found El Dorado, she now rules her own empire. Of course, someday she may have to share it with her bratty little sister.

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