2010 IRF World Championships - Mexico wins women's doubles

Paola Longoria got her gold medal but in doubles, not singles, as she and fellow Mexican Samantha Salas Solis won women's doubles at the 15th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Seoul, South Korea. They defeated defending champions Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso (USA), 13-15, 15-13, 11-4, becoming only the second non-US team to win gold in women's doubles.

Canadians Carol McFetridge and Marion Sicotte were women's doubles World Champions in 1986.

Mexico could have won the first game but missed some shots late. However, after game one they played well and seemed in control of the match - despite a close second game - winning the tie-breaker by a comfortable margin.

In game one, Salas Solis was hit in the face on a follow through from Paraiso and needed some injury time. She managed to recover and play out the match, but was reportedly going to the hospital after the match to have the injury assessed.

The victory will be a consolation to Longoria, who as the #1 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) rankings, was the favorite to win the singles title, but lost to American Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals.

In men's doubles, Americans Ben Croft and Mitch Williams defeated Canadians Mike Green and Tim Landeryou, 15-2, 15-13. The victory was Williams's second consecutive World title in doubles as he won two years ago in Ireland with Jason Thoerner. It's Croft's first gold medal for the USA in his first appearance on the national team.

Green and Landeryou were the first Canadian team to make the doubles final since 2002, when Green and Mike Ceresia lost to Mexicans Polo Gutierrez and Gilbert Mejia.

There's now an off day before the team competition begins on Thursday. The team competition is a best of three matches with one countries' singles players and doubles team against another's on both the men's and women's side.

15th IRF World Championships
Seoul, South Korea

Men's Doubles Final
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) d. Tim Landeryou & Mike Green (Canada), 15-2, 15-13

Women's Doubles Finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Amy Ruiz & Jacqueline Paraiso (USA), 13-15, 15-13, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....