Weekend Round Up - 1st ever racquetball tournament in India

There were a few racquetball events on the weekend, but none with more significance going forward than the Lanco Hills India Open in Hyderbad, India, as it's the first ever racquetball event in India. It could be the start of something big if racquetball can catch on in India.

Thirty nine players competed across six divisions, including an 18 and under division. In the Men's Open division, Raaj Mohan came out on top by defeating Srikaran Kandadai in the final, 15-8, 15-7.

In the semi-finals, Mohan beat Srikanth Murthy, 15-6, 15-2, and Kandadai defeated Chacko Cherian, 15-14, 15-9.

With the Olympics last month, many people were talking about why racquetball isn't in the Olympics, and one of the primary reasons is that racquetball isn't played in enough countries. Thus, the first ever racquetball tournament in India is a step towards growing the game in a new country, and it's exciting.

Meanwhile, back in the USA

Ben Croft won the 8th Annual Carl Myers Memorial Tournament - a Tier 2 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - in Garden City, Kansas, but it wasn't an easy victory, as Charlie Pratt pushed Croft to five games before the IRT's #5 player came out on top, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6.

Pratt played two close matches to get to the final, as he needed a tie-breaker to get past Felipe Camacho in the quarter-finals, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5, and then beat Jansen Allen in three close games, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7, in the semi-finals. Croft defeated Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6, in the other semi.

Polo Gutierrez won the Pleasanton Open in Pleasanton, Calif. - a World Racquetball Tour event, as he defeated Alejandro Cardona, 15-10, 15-6, in the final. Gutierrez beat Jake Bredenbeck, 15-6, 15-7, in one semi-final while Cardona beat Anthony Herrera, 15-13, 15-6, in the other.

Lanco Hills India Open - Hyderbad, India

Men's Open - Final

Raaj Mohan d. Srikaran Kandadai, 15-8, 15-7.

Semi-finals

Raaj Mohan d. Srikanth Murthy, 15-6, 15-2
Srikaran Kandadai d. Chacko Cherian, 15-14, 15-9

8th Annual Carl Myers Memorial Tournament - Garden City, Kansas

Final

Ben Croft d. Charlie Pratt, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6

Semi-finals

Ben Croft d. Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Charlie Pratt d. Jansen Allen, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7

Quarter-finals

Ben Croft d. Tyler Stone
Brad Schopieray d. Thomas Fuhrmann, 11-3, 11-1, 11-3
Charlie Pratt d. Felipe Camacho, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5
Jansen Allen d. Logan Reese, 11-1, 11-4, 11-2

2014 Pleasanton Open, Pleasanton, California

Final

Polo Gutierrez d. Alejandro Cardona, 15-10, 15-6

Semi-finals

Polo Gutierrez d. Jake Bredenbeck, 15-6, 15-7
Alejandro Cardona d. Anthony Herrera, 15-13, 15-6

Quarter-finals

Polo Gutierrez d. Coby Iwaasa, 15-8, 15-11
Jake Bredenbeck d. David Horn, 15-12, 15-13
Anthony Herrera d. Brad Kirch, 15-12, 15-9
Alejandro Cardona d. Nicolai Miramontes, 15-6, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….