Mexico won the Overall Team title for the first time in World Championships history at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia on Saturday. Indeed, they almost swept the team competitions, which are a result of points awarded to the players based on their performances in the medal round. Mexico won the Women's Team competition, and was one point behind the USA in the Men's Team competition.
The USA had won all Overall Team competitions at Worlds except one, as Canada won the overall title in 2000, when the team competition was run as an actual competition with countries playing two singles matches and a doubles match against each other in men's and women's divisions. That format was changed in 2014 to the current one.
Mexico has won the Women's Team title three consecutive times now, while the USA has won the Men's Team title every year since 2002, when Canada won.
Tournament Thoughts
The IRF live streamed matches on the last three days of competition, so people outside of Cali could see the action. Those productions were generally good, and the IRF will be putting those videos on their YouTube channel in the coming days, so if you missed any of the action, or want to review it, check that out. Also on their YouTube channel, the IRF posted match videos from earlier in the competition, as well as interviews with various players and IRF people, and that was a welcome addition to the tournament.
Paola Longoria. Although it might be funny to say, it didn't seem to us that Paola Longoria played her best in the Women's Singles semi-finals and finals. Funny, because Longoria won both matches in two straight games and gave up only five points in three of those games. But Longoria's performance standards are very high, so it seemed she made more errors than she normally does. It's a testament to how good Longoria is that she can defeat players when she isn't playing her best.
And this slight reduction in quality could have contributed to Mexico's loss in the Women's Doubles final, as Mexico was up against a couple of wily veterans in Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger. Mexico needed Longoria and her partner Samantha Salas to be at their best to defeat the USA, but they weren't quite there. The Americans had a clear plan of what to do, and they were able to execute that. Mexico still almost won that final; they were only three points away from the gold, but being a little bit off can be the crucial difference between gold and silver.
Rocky Carson. The Racquetball Blog just passed its 8 year anniversary, and for that entire period Rocky Carson has been World Champion. It's an incredible record of excellence. He's 37 now, and was pressed for the win more this year than in any of his previous World Championships, as he needed three games to win both the semi-finals and finals. Previously, Carson had only played one tie-breaker in either the semis or the finals in winning his other World titles.
Can he win again in two years? It doesn't seem likely, but then it wouldn't have seemed likely that Carson would win five titles in a row back in 2008, so we aren't going to bet against it. However, Carson will be 39 in two years, and Father Time is undefeated, which could be a factor preventing Carson from extending his World Championship streak to six.
American Women. For some time now, we have suggested the state of American women's high performance racquetball has not been good, and their performance at Worlds this year was perhaps the worst ever, despite winning gold in Women's Doubles. Worst ever because for the first time no American woman was in the semi-finals at Worlds.
There had been Women's Singles finals with no American twice previously, as Canadian Christie Van Hees (now Christie Huczek) defeated Chilean Angela Grisar in the 2006 final, and Longoria beat Canadian Jennifer Saunders in the 2012 final. But in 2006, American Cheryl Gudinas was a semi-finalist and in 2012 both Gudinas and team-mate Rhonda Rajsich were in the semis.
The issue is the American women are generally older than their competition, and there aren't young American players coming along to takeover from the veterans. Team USA this year had two players over 30 (Rajsich, who'll be 38 in October, and Tisinger, 33) and one over 40 (Ruiz, 41), and their other player, Michelle Key, will be 28 next month. Rajsich and Key lost to players who will be 17 and 22, respectively, this year.
Moreover, looking at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) rankings, outside of Rajsich and Key there are only three American players in the top 20: Da'monique Davis (18th), Adrienne Haynes (19th) and Sheryl Lotts (20th), and two of those are over 30 (both Davis & Haynes are 31; Lotts is 26).
Thus, the issue for the USA is that there are few younger American women playing high level racquetball, which doesn't bode well for the future. In their favour, Kelani Bailey, who's just graduated university this year, was on Team USA for the Pan American Championships this year, so she's a promising prospect.
But they need more than one.
IRF Rule Changes
The IRF will be changing a few rules, and those changes will be effective September 1. The three key ones are (1) that players will have only 3 appeals per game which is down from 5 a game (IRF matches can involve line judges, and a player may appeal to those line judges if the player believes the referee's call is incorrect; if the line judges both disagree with the call, then the call will be overturned), (2) players will be allowed only two minutes of rest time between game two and three, which is the same as between games one and two, and down from the current five minutes between games two and three. Finally, (3) the IRF will adopt the two serve rule, which reportedly was asked for by the players, rather than one serve that has been the rule for perhaps two decades.
Those first two rule changes seem reasonable, but we are not in agreement on players having two serves. Part of the rationale was to be consistent with the professional tours, which use the two serve rule. The pro tours also use the win by two points rule in each game, which the IRF does not use, and there's no indication the IRF are going to adopt that rule, although we'd be in favour of them doing so.
The common thought is that allowing players to have two serves will encourage them to drive serve more, which is an exciting part of racquetball. But we feel that allowing two serves hurts players with good drive serves more, as their opponents will be able to just wale on the ball in an attempt to get a lucky serve, comforted by the knowledge that if their serve is a fault, they will get a second opportunity to put the ball into play.
Good drive servers, like Paola Longoria or Mike Green, don't need two serves to be effective drive serving. But poorer drive servers will be more effective with two serves, because they are being freed up to drive serve on first serve, when they might not have done so with a one serve rule.
Moreover, poorer drive servers are likely less effective because their technique is not good. With two serves, they will likely drive serve more, and over the course of a long tournament, like the World Championships, which lasts over a week, these players could be more susceptible to injury, because they are trying to produce maximum force with poor technique.
So, for these reasons we aren't in favour of the change to two serves, but no one asked us.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Overall Team
1st: Mexico
2nd: USA
3rd: Bolivia
4th: Canada
5th: Ecuador
Men's Team
1st: USA
2nd: Mexico
3rd: Bolivia
4th: Canada
5th: Ecuador
Women's Team
1st: Mexico
2nd: USA
3rd: Guatemala
4th: Canada
5th: Bolivia
Men's Singles
GOLD: Rocky Carson (USA)
SILVER: Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
BRONZE: Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), Samuel Murray (Canada)
Men's Doubles
GOLD: Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico)
SILVER: Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA)
BRONZE: Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia), Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Women's Singles
GOLD: Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER: Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
BRONZE: Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), Samantha Salas (Mexico)
Women's Doubles
GOLD: Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA)
SILVER: Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
BRONZE: Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, July 25, 2016
Saturday, July 23, 2016
USA & Mexico split doubles titles at 18th IRF World Championships
The USA and Mexico split the doubles finals at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, as Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger won the Women’s Doubles final and Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno won the Men’s Doubles final.
Ruiz and Tisinger’s title was the surprising one, as they upset three time defending Women’s Doubles champions Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas. Two years ago Longoria and Salas beat Ruiz and Tisinger in the final. This year it was the Americans turn, as they won 15-11, 9-15, 11-8.
Afterwards, Tisinger said “I didn’t expect to be crying so much,” but it is her first World Championship. But it’s not Ruiz’s, as she won for the third time, although with the third different partner. The left-handed Ruiz has been on Team USA for the last six World Championships, and is now 3-3 in them, including playing in five finals.
Ruiz said she didn’t “have the words” to describe how she felt, but it was “nice to beat them.” Asked about the tie-breaker, Tisinger said there was “a bit of panic” as the Mexicans were coming back, but she tried to stay calm and was confident that they could win it.
And they did.
But it did not look like they would early in the match, as Mexico went up 7-1 in game one. But a timeout led to a sideout, and that produced five points, cutting the deficit to one at 7-6. The Americans then caught up to the Mexicans at 9-9, then went ahead 10-9. Mexico tied it at 10-10, but the USA got them out of the service box, and regained the lead, and maintained it, winning 15-11 when Longoria skipped a backhand shot.
Game two played out similarly early on, as Mexico led 5-1, and then USA again drew within one at 7-6. However, Mexico then took a timeout, and scored five straight points when play resumed to lead 12-6, and closed it out from there at 15-9.
Mexico got the first point of the breaker, but the USA led the rest of the way. Taking leads at 5-2, 7-3 and 10-4. However, it was a nervy finish, as Mexico fought off the first match point, then scored a few points to make it 10-7. USA got the serve back, but they couldn’t score, which led to another Mexico point and a 10-8 scoreline. USA called timeout.
When play resumed, the Americans got the serve back, as Salas framed a ball that was coming off the right side glass wall. It didn’t seem like a difficult shot, but it was coming into her body and she was taking it high. With the serve back, Ruiz again hit a lob to Longoria, as she had been doing all match. On the ensuing rally, Ruiz got a ball to hit in centre court and she hit a winning pass down the left side that ended a great match.
The Men’s Doubles final was not as dramatic, as Beltran and Moreno defeated Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in two straight games, 15-12, 15-9. In game one, the Mexicans took 8-1 lead only to see the Americans come back and tie it 9-9. Then the Americans took the lead at 12-9. But the veteran Mexican team, who had two World Doubles title together previously, held the young Americans at 12, as they came back to take game one 15-12 with the winning shot by Beltran that ended one of the numerous long rallies in the match.
Game two was similar, as Mexico took an early, but not large, lead, with the USA tying it at 6-6. But that was as close as the USA got, as Mexico went out to a 11-6 advantage. The Americans did get within two at 11-9, but they seemed to be just delaying the inevitable, as Beltran again hit the game winning shot.
The win is Moreno’s fourth Men’s Doubles Championship, which is the most for a men’s player. He first won back in 2000 with Luis Bustilos, which was the first non-USA team to win the title. Moreno’s other two title have been with Beltran: in 2006 and 2012.
The IRF will be posting the video of the finals, as well as earlier matches, on their YouTube channel in the coming days, so if you missed seeing them live, you can check them out there.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Doubles - Final
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. 1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-11, 9-15, 11-8
Men's Doubles - Final
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA), 15-12, 15-9
Follow the bouncing ball....
Ruiz and Tisinger’s title was the surprising one, as they upset three time defending Women’s Doubles champions Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas. Two years ago Longoria and Salas beat Ruiz and Tisinger in the final. This year it was the Americans turn, as they won 15-11, 9-15, 11-8.
Afterwards, Tisinger said “I didn’t expect to be crying so much,” but it is her first World Championship. But it’s not Ruiz’s, as she won for the third time, although with the third different partner. The left-handed Ruiz has been on Team USA for the last six World Championships, and is now 3-3 in them, including playing in five finals.
Ruiz said she didn’t “have the words” to describe how she felt, but it was “nice to beat them.” Asked about the tie-breaker, Tisinger said there was “a bit of panic” as the Mexicans were coming back, but she tried to stay calm and was confident that they could win it.
And they did.
But it did not look like they would early in the match, as Mexico went up 7-1 in game one. But a timeout led to a sideout, and that produced five points, cutting the deficit to one at 7-6. The Americans then caught up to the Mexicans at 9-9, then went ahead 10-9. Mexico tied it at 10-10, but the USA got them out of the service box, and regained the lead, and maintained it, winning 15-11 when Longoria skipped a backhand shot.
Game two played out similarly early on, as Mexico led 5-1, and then USA again drew within one at 7-6. However, Mexico then took a timeout, and scored five straight points when play resumed to lead 12-6, and closed it out from there at 15-9.
Mexico got the first point of the breaker, but the USA led the rest of the way. Taking leads at 5-2, 7-3 and 10-4. However, it was a nervy finish, as Mexico fought off the first match point, then scored a few points to make it 10-7. USA got the serve back, but they couldn’t score, which led to another Mexico point and a 10-8 scoreline. USA called timeout.
When play resumed, the Americans got the serve back, as Salas framed a ball that was coming off the right side glass wall. It didn’t seem like a difficult shot, but it was coming into her body and she was taking it high. With the serve back, Ruiz again hit a lob to Longoria, as she had been doing all match. On the ensuing rally, Ruiz got a ball to hit in centre court and she hit a winning pass down the left side that ended a great match.
The Men’s Doubles final was not as dramatic, as Beltran and Moreno defeated Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in two straight games, 15-12, 15-9. In game one, the Mexicans took 8-1 lead only to see the Americans come back and tie it 9-9. Then the Americans took the lead at 12-9. But the veteran Mexican team, who had two World Doubles title together previously, held the young Americans at 12, as they came back to take game one 15-12 with the winning shot by Beltran that ended one of the numerous long rallies in the match.
Game two was similar, as Mexico took an early, but not large, lead, with the USA tying it at 6-6. But that was as close as the USA got, as Mexico went out to a 11-6 advantage. The Americans did get within two at 11-9, but they seemed to be just delaying the inevitable, as Beltran again hit the game winning shot.
The win is Moreno’s fourth Men’s Doubles Championship, which is the most for a men’s player. He first won back in 2000 with Luis Bustilos, which was the first non-USA team to win the title. Moreno’s other two title have been with Beltran: in 2006 and 2012.
The IRF will be posting the video of the finals, as well as earlier matches, on their YouTube channel in the coming days, so if you missed seeing them live, you can check them out there.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Doubles - Final
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. 1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-11, 9-15, 11-8
Men's Doubles - Final
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA), 15-12, 15-9
Follow the bouncing ball....
Carson & Longoria are IRF World Champions
Repetition is often key in sports, and there was repetition in the singles finals at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, as both defending champions won again. Women’s Singles Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico won for the third time in a row, and Men’s Singles Champion Rocky Carson won his fifth consecutive title. Carson’s win extended his record number of championships, while Longoria’s three title tie her with Americans Michelle Gould and Cheryl Gudinas.
In the women’s final, Longoria defeated Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, who at only 17 years old, was a surprise finalist, 15-12, 15-5. Longoria and Martinez also played in the group stage of the tournament, which Longoria won comfortably. But the final was so comfortable, as Martinez was close with Longoria in game one.
They were tied at 5-5, but then Longoria went ahead to 10-6. However, Martinez didn’t quit, as she drew within two at 12-10 and 13-11 before Longoria closed it out at 15-12. Unusually, on the game point Longoria lob served, and hit a forehand winner on the third shot of the rally. That was unusual, because Longoria generally drive serves on every serve, and that was her strategy for most of the match, but not on that game point.
In game two, Longoria got an early lead at 3-0 and 6-2, and Martinez was never closer than four points after that, as Longoria won her third Women’s Singles World Championship in two straight games.
Carson defeated Mexican Daniel De La Rosa, 15-12, 5-15, 11-5, in the Men’s Singles final. Carson led throughout game one, although De La Rosa drew within two down 13-11. Game two started slowly, as they were still tied 4-4 after 27 rallies.
But then De La Rosa won the next seven rallies to lead 11-4. Carson took a timeout at 7-4, but to no avail. De La Rosa went on to take game two comfortably at 15-5. His strategy seemed to be to make Carson do a lot of work, as De La Rosa hit a lot of ceiling balls. Usually, it’s Carson being patient versus an opponent, but the tables seemed to be turned in game two.
In the breaker, De La Rosa got the early lead at 2-0, but after they were tied at 3-3, Carson went out to an 8-4 lead, and he didn’t look back from there. There were some calls that went Carson’s way, but when the difference is six points, it’s difficult to say that those calls were the difference. Carson got the match point on an forehand overhead cross court shot that De La Rosa couldn’t retrieve.
Thus, over 18 IRF World Championships, Rocky Carson has won 5 Men’s Singles titles, or almost a third of them. It’s an incredible record.
The IRF will be posting match videos to their YouTube channel, so if you missed the final, you’ll be able to watch it there.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Final
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-5
Men’s Singles - Final
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico), 15-11, 5-15, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the women’s final, Longoria defeated Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, who at only 17 years old, was a surprise finalist, 15-12, 15-5. Longoria and Martinez also played in the group stage of the tournament, which Longoria won comfortably. But the final was so comfortable, as Martinez was close with Longoria in game one.
They were tied at 5-5, but then Longoria went ahead to 10-6. However, Martinez didn’t quit, as she drew within two at 12-10 and 13-11 before Longoria closed it out at 15-12. Unusually, on the game point Longoria lob served, and hit a forehand winner on the third shot of the rally. That was unusual, because Longoria generally drive serves on every serve, and that was her strategy for most of the match, but not on that game point.
In game two, Longoria got an early lead at 3-0 and 6-2, and Martinez was never closer than four points after that, as Longoria won her third Women’s Singles World Championship in two straight games.
Carson defeated Mexican Daniel De La Rosa, 15-12, 5-15, 11-5, in the Men’s Singles final. Carson led throughout game one, although De La Rosa drew within two down 13-11. Game two started slowly, as they were still tied 4-4 after 27 rallies.
But then De La Rosa won the next seven rallies to lead 11-4. Carson took a timeout at 7-4, but to no avail. De La Rosa went on to take game two comfortably at 15-5. His strategy seemed to be to make Carson do a lot of work, as De La Rosa hit a lot of ceiling balls. Usually, it’s Carson being patient versus an opponent, but the tables seemed to be turned in game two.
In the breaker, De La Rosa got the early lead at 2-0, but after they were tied at 3-3, Carson went out to an 8-4 lead, and he didn’t look back from there. There were some calls that went Carson’s way, but when the difference is six points, it’s difficult to say that those calls were the difference. Carson got the match point on an forehand overhead cross court shot that De La Rosa couldn’t retrieve.
Thus, over 18 IRF World Championships, Rocky Carson has won 5 Men’s Singles titles, or almost a third of them. It’s an incredible record.
The IRF will be posting match videos to their YouTube channel, so if you missed the final, you’ll be able to watch it there.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Final
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-5
Men’s Singles - Final
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico), 15-11, 5-15, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, July 22, 2016
Mexico-USA finals in Men's & Women's Doubles at 18th IRF World Championships
Two USA-Mexico showdowns are on tap in the finals of Men’s and Women’s Doubles at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia. The Women’s Doubles final is a repeat of 2012, as Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, the three time defending champions, will again face Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger.
In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas defeated 5th seeds Jenny Daza and Adriana Riveros of Bolivia, 15-5, 15-5, while Ruiz and Tisinger beat Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders, 15-8, 15-7.
On the men’s side, Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz will face two time former champions Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno of Mexico. The Americans had the more difficult semi-final, as they needed a tie-breaker to defeat Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller, winning 15-14, 8-15, 11-8.
The Bolivians got the first two points of the breaker, but the Americans got the next eight to lead 8-2. They got to match point at 10-4, but Keller hit a winning backhand serve return, which led to four Bolivia points. They might have had a fifth, but the ball broke. On the next rally, Bredenbeck hit a forehand winner that got the USA the serve back, and another Bredenbeck forehand won them the match.
The Mexicans played the defending champion Colombians, Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera, in the other semi, and it wasn’t as close as some expected, as Beltran and Moreno won comfortably, 15-2, 15-5. The Mexicans both served kiss lobs to their opponents, and followed those up with strong shots during the rallies.
There will be live streaming of finals Saturday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. 5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-5
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. 3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-8, 15-7
Women's Doubles - Final
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. 2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA)
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. 4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia), 15-14, 8-15, 11-8
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 15-2, 15-5
Men's Doubles - Final
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas defeated 5th seeds Jenny Daza and Adriana Riveros of Bolivia, 15-5, 15-5, while Ruiz and Tisinger beat Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders, 15-8, 15-7.
On the men’s side, Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz will face two time former champions Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno of Mexico. The Americans had the more difficult semi-final, as they needed a tie-breaker to defeat Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller, winning 15-14, 8-15, 11-8.
The Bolivians got the first two points of the breaker, but the Americans got the next eight to lead 8-2. They got to match point at 10-4, but Keller hit a winning backhand serve return, which led to four Bolivia points. They might have had a fifth, but the ball broke. On the next rally, Bredenbeck hit a forehand winner that got the USA the serve back, and another Bredenbeck forehand won them the match.
The Mexicans played the defending champion Colombians, Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera, in the other semi, and it wasn’t as close as some expected, as Beltran and Moreno won comfortably, 15-2, 15-5. The Mexicans both served kiss lobs to their opponents, and followed those up with strong shots during the rallies.
There will be live streaming of finals Saturday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. 5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-5
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. 3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-8, 15-7
Women's Doubles - Final
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. 2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA)
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. 4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia), 15-14, 8-15, 11-8
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 15-2, 15-5
Men's Doubles - Final
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Champions will have a chance to defend titles at 18th IRF World Championships
Two time defending Women’s Singles Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico will have a chance to make it three in a row at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, as she defeated Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-5, 15-5, in the semi-finals.
Longoria’s opponent in the final is a surprise, as 16 year old Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala upset 3rd seed Samantha Salas of Mexico, 15-11, 14-15, 11-9, in the other semi-final.
Four time defending Men’s Singles Champion American Rocky Carson will have a chance to win a fifth title Saturday, as he defeated Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals Friday in a match that took over two and half hours with Carson winning 15-12, 12-15, 11-4. It was a replay of the 2014 Men’s Singles Final, which Carson won, but in two games that weren’t nearly as close as there were this year.
Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico stands between Carson and that 5th title, as De La Rosa beat Canadian Samuel Murray in the other semi-final, 15-12, 15-7. It’s Murray first podium performance in his second appearance at Worlds.
There is live streaming of medal round matches via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting match videos and player interviews to the iRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-5, 15-5
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 3) Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-11, 14-15, 11-9
Women's Singles - Final
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men’s Singles - Semi-finals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-12, 12-15, 11-4
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 6) Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 15-7
Men’s Singles - Final
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Longoria’s opponent in the final is a surprise, as 16 year old Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala upset 3rd seed Samantha Salas of Mexico, 15-11, 14-15, 11-9, in the other semi-final.
Four time defending Men’s Singles Champion American Rocky Carson will have a chance to win a fifth title Saturday, as he defeated Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals Friday in a match that took over two and half hours with Carson winning 15-12, 12-15, 11-4. It was a replay of the 2014 Men’s Singles Final, which Carson won, but in two games that weren’t nearly as close as there were this year.
Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico stands between Carson and that 5th title, as De La Rosa beat Canadian Samuel Murray in the other semi-final, 15-12, 15-7. It’s Murray first podium performance in his second appearance at Worlds.
There is live streaming of medal round matches via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting match videos and player interviews to the iRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-5, 15-5
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 3) Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-11, 14-15, 11-9
Women's Singles - Final
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men’s Singles - Semi-finals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-12, 12-15, 11-4
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 6) Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 15-7
Men’s Singles - Final
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Doubles quarterfinals at 18th IRF World Championships
The top three seeds in Women’s Doubles have reached the semi-finals at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, but the fourth seed was upset in the quarterfinals Thursday. Top seeds and three time defending champions, Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico defeated 8th seeds Maria Renee Rodriguez and Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-2, 15-5, and will play 5th seeds Jenny Daza and Adriana Riveros of Bolivia, who knocked off 4th seeds Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador in two straight games, 15-9, 15-8.
On the other side of the draw, the semi-final will be Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger versus Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders. In the quarterfinals, the Americans defeated Maria Cespedes and Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo of the Dominican Republic, 15-6, 15-8, while the Canadians beat Pia Dati and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-7, 15-9.
All four of the top seeds are in the semi-finals of Men’s Doubles. Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, the top seeds, defeated Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero, 15-9, 15-9, and will play Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller in the semis after the Bolivians came back from a game down to beat Canadians Mike Green and Tim Landeryou, 6-15, 15-2, 11-8.
In the breaker, the Bolivians had the lead at 7-3, only to see Canada come back and lead 8-7. However, Bolivia stopped them there, and got to match point at 10-8. Canada survived two match points, but couldn’t score on their serves, and when Bolivia got match point #3 they won it, as Green skipped a backhand shot.
Mexico plays Colombia in the other semi in what will be a battle of the former champions versus current champions. Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera are the current Men’s Doubles champions while Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno are two time Men’s Doubles champions, winning the title in 2012 and 2006.
In the quarters, Mexico defeat Ecuadorans Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-6, and Colombia beat Michimune Kono and Yuki Nakano of Japan, 15-5, 15-4.
There will be live streaming of semi-final matches on Friday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. 8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-5
5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-8
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-9
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. 10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-8
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. 5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. 3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. 8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-9
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. 5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada), 6-15, 15-2, 11-8
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. 6) Michimune Kono & Yuki Nakano (Japan), 15-5, 15-4
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia)
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. 3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
On the other side of the draw, the semi-final will be Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger versus Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders. In the quarterfinals, the Americans defeated Maria Cespedes and Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo of the Dominican Republic, 15-6, 15-8, while the Canadians beat Pia Dati and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-7, 15-9.
All four of the top seeds are in the semi-finals of Men’s Doubles. Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, the top seeds, defeated Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero, 15-9, 15-9, and will play Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller in the semis after the Bolivians came back from a game down to beat Canadians Mike Green and Tim Landeryou, 6-15, 15-2, 11-8.
In the breaker, the Bolivians had the lead at 7-3, only to see Canada come back and lead 8-7. However, Bolivia stopped them there, and got to match point at 10-8. Canada survived two match points, but couldn’t score on their serves, and when Bolivia got match point #3 they won it, as Green skipped a backhand shot.
Mexico plays Colombia in the other semi in what will be a battle of the former champions versus current champions. Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera are the current Men’s Doubles champions while Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno are two time Men’s Doubles champions, winning the title in 2012 and 2006.
In the quarters, Mexico defeat Ecuadorans Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-6, and Colombia beat Michimune Kono and Yuki Nakano of Japan, 15-5, 15-4.
There will be live streaming of semi-final matches on Friday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. 8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-5
5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-8
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-9
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. 10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-8
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. 5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. 3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. 8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-9
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. 5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada), 6-15, 15-2, 11-8
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. 6) Michimune Kono & Yuki Nakano (Japan), 15-5, 15-4
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia)
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. 3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Martinez, Murray surprise winners in quarterfinals at 18th IRF World Championships
Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala won again Thursday at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, and will be on the podium for the first time in her young career. Today Martinez beat Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador, 15-9, 15-9, in the quarterfinals, so she’s going to be a medalist in Cali.
Samantha Salas of Mexico will face Martinez in the semi-finals, as Salas defeated hometown favorite Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 15-3, 6-15, 11-6, in the quarters.
Top seed and two time defending Women’s Singles Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico beat Canadian Christine Richardson, 15-1, 15-0, in her quarterfinal match, and will face Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in the semis, as Vargas defeated Chilean Carla Muñoz, 15-9, 6-15, 11-9.
On the men’s side, four time defending Men’s Singles Champion Rocky Carson of the USA defeated Javier Mar of Mexico, 15-9, 15-9, in the quarterfinals, and will play Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals, which will be a replay of the 2014 Men’s Singles Final that Carson won. Moscoso beat Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 11-15, 15-0, 11-1, in the quarters.
Finally, Canadian Samuel Murray knocked off 3rd seed Chris Crowther of the USA, 7-15, 15-3, 11-7, to reach the semis, where he will play Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico, who was a winner against Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic, 15-6, 15-0.
There is live streaming of medal round matches via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting match videos and player interviews to the iRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 9) Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-1, 15-0
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 13) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-9, 6-15, 11-9
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-3, 6-15, 11-6
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-9
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 8) Javier Mar (Mexico), 15-9, 15-9
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-0, 11-1
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 3) Chris Crowther (USA), 7-15, 15-3, 11-7
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-0
Men’s Singles - Semi-finals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Samantha Salas of Mexico will face Martinez in the semi-finals, as Salas defeated hometown favorite Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 15-3, 6-15, 11-6, in the quarters.
Top seed and two time defending Women’s Singles Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico beat Canadian Christine Richardson, 15-1, 15-0, in her quarterfinal match, and will face Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in the semis, as Vargas defeated Chilean Carla Muñoz, 15-9, 6-15, 11-9.
On the men’s side, four time defending Men’s Singles Champion Rocky Carson of the USA defeated Javier Mar of Mexico, 15-9, 15-9, in the quarterfinals, and will play Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals, which will be a replay of the 2014 Men’s Singles Final that Carson won. Moscoso beat Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 11-15, 15-0, 11-1, in the quarters.
Finally, Canadian Samuel Murray knocked off 3rd seed Chris Crowther of the USA, 7-15, 15-3, 11-7, to reach the semis, where he will play Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico, who was a winner against Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic, 15-6, 15-0.
There is live streaming of medal round matches via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting match videos and player interviews to the iRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 9) Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-1, 15-0
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 13) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-9, 6-15, 11-9
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-3, 6-15, 11-6
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-9
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 8) Javier Mar (Mexico), 15-9, 15-9
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-0, 11-1
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 3) Chris Crowther (USA), 7-15, 15-3, 11-7
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-0
Men’s Singles - Semi-finals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
18th IRF World Championships - Doubles Round of 16
Two small upsets in Women’s Doubles Wednesday at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia. The Argentine team of Pia Dati and Maria Jose Vargas defeated 6th seeds Harumi Kajino and Toshiko Sakamoto of Japan, 15-7, 15-9, and 10th seed Maria Cespedes and Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo of the Dominican Republic beat 7th seeds Mariana Tobon and Lilian Zea of Venezuela, 15-3, 15-6.
No upsets in Men's Doubles, but there will be some big matches in the quarterfinals, as they play for a place on the podium. Former World Champions Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno from Mexico are up against Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador in what is almost a rematch of this year's Pan American Championship final, when Moreno and Alejandro Landa defeated Rios and Ugalde.
Current World Champions, Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco will face Japanese players Michimune Kono and Yuki Nakano in the quarters with the top seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz are up against Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. 16) Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea), 15-8, 15-5
8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. 9) Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-10, 11-7
5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. 12) Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-9, 15-5
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. 13) Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-9, 15-4
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. 14) Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-1
6) Michimune Kono & Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. 11) Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-5
7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 10) Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-1, 15-7
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 15) Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-3, 15-2
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica)
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) v. 5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada)
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. 6) Michimune Kono & Yuki Nakano (Japan)
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. 7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Women's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) - BYE
8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 9) Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 6-15, 15-13, 11-8
5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 12) Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-10, 15-6
4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 13) Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-4, 15-3
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 6) Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan), 15-7, 15-9
10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. 7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-6
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - BYE
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. 8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. 11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. 10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
Follow the bouncing ball....
No upsets in Men's Doubles, but there will be some big matches in the quarterfinals, as they play for a place on the podium. Former World Champions Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno from Mexico are up against Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador in what is almost a rematch of this year's Pan American Championship final, when Moreno and Alejandro Landa defeated Rios and Ugalde.
Current World Champions, Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco will face Japanese players Michimune Kono and Yuki Nakano in the quarters with the top seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz are up against Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. 16) Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea), 15-8, 15-5
8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. 9) Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-10, 11-7
5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. 12) Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-9, 15-5
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. 13) Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-9, 15-4
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. 14) Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-1
6) Michimune Kono & Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. 11) Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-5
7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 10) Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-1, 15-7
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. 15) Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-3, 15-2
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica)
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) v. 5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada)
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. 6) Michimune Kono & Yuki Nakano (Japan)
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. 7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Women's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) - BYE
8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 9) Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 6-15, 15-13, 11-8
5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 12) Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-10, 15-6
4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 13) Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-4, 15-3
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 6) Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan), 15-7, 15-9
10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. 7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-6
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - BYE
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. 8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. 11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. 10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
Follow the bouncing ball....
18th IRF World Championships - Singles Round of 16
Young Guatemalan Ana Gabriela Martinez, the current World Junior Girl’s U16 Champion knocked off two time World Champion American Rhonda Rajsich, 15-14, 14-15, 11-7, in the Round of 16 Wednesday at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia. Rajsich, the 2nd seed, played two tie-breakers in the group stage of the competition, and won them, but her luck ran out against Martinez.
With Michelle Key’s loss yesterday, we’re confident in saying this is the first time an American woman has not reached the quarterfinals at the Worlds.
Martinez’s win will also benefit Mexican Paola Longoria, the two time current, the #1 seed, who won her first medal round match by defeating Bolivian Jenny Daza, 15-5, 15-2. Longoria will next play 9th seed Canadian Christine Richardson, who narrowly defeated 8th seed Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic, 10-15, 15-9, 11-10.
Another upset winner was Carla Muñoz of Chile, who defeated 4th seed Adriana Riveros of Bolivia, 15-10, 15-11,. Muñoz will play 5th seed Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in the quarterfinals on Thursday, as Vargas outlasted 12th seed Jin Seok of South Korea, 9-15, 15-7, 11-4, in the 16s.
In Men’s Singles, the 2nd seed was also defeated, as Dominican Luis Perez beat 2nd Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7. However, Perez’s task won’t get easier in the quarterfinals, as he’ll play current Pan American Champion Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico who was a winner over Roland Keller of Bolivia, 15-10, 15-0, in the 16s.
Rocky Carson of the USA, the 4 time defending Men’s Singles Champion, had a good start to the medal round, as he beat Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, 15-12, 15-2, Wednesday. Carson will next play Mexican Javier Mar, the 8th seed, who defeated 9th seed Yuki Nakano of Japan, 15-5, 15-6.
There will be live streaming of medal round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the iRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-2
9) Christine Richardson (Canada) d. 8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 10-15, 15-9, 11-10
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 12) Jin Seok (South Korea), 9-15, 15-7, 11-4
13) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-11
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-0
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 11) Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-1, 15-0
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 10) Maiko Sato (Japan), 15-6, 15-3
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-14, 14-15, 11-7
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 9) Christine Richardson (Canada)
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 13) Carla Muñoz (Chile)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men’s Singles - Round of 16
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-12, 15-2
8) Javier Mar (Mexico) d. 9) Yuki Nakano (Japan), 15-5, 15-6
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 12) Hirotake Usami (Japan), 15-5, 15-9
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-11, 15-5
3) Chris Crowther (USA) d. 14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-8, 15-8
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-11, 13-15, 11-1
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 7) Roland Keller (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-0
18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-10, 10-15, 11-7
Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 8) Javier Mar (Mexico)
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
3) Chris Crowther (USA) v. 6) Samuel Murray (Canada)
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic)
Follow the bouncing ball....
With Michelle Key’s loss yesterday, we’re confident in saying this is the first time an American woman has not reached the quarterfinals at the Worlds.
Martinez’s win will also benefit Mexican Paola Longoria, the two time current, the #1 seed, who won her first medal round match by defeating Bolivian Jenny Daza, 15-5, 15-2. Longoria will next play 9th seed Canadian Christine Richardson, who narrowly defeated 8th seed Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic, 10-15, 15-9, 11-10.
Another upset winner was Carla Muñoz of Chile, who defeated 4th seed Adriana Riveros of Bolivia, 15-10, 15-11,. Muñoz will play 5th seed Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in the quarterfinals on Thursday, as Vargas outlasted 12th seed Jin Seok of South Korea, 9-15, 15-7, 11-4, in the 16s.
In Men’s Singles, the 2nd seed was also defeated, as Dominican Luis Perez beat 2nd Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7. However, Perez’s task won’t get easier in the quarterfinals, as he’ll play current Pan American Champion Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico who was a winner over Roland Keller of Bolivia, 15-10, 15-0, in the 16s.
Rocky Carson of the USA, the 4 time defending Men’s Singles Champion, had a good start to the medal round, as he beat Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, 15-12, 15-2, Wednesday. Carson will next play Mexican Javier Mar, the 8th seed, who defeated 9th seed Yuki Nakano of Japan, 15-5, 15-6.
There will be live streaming of medal round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the iRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-2
9) Christine Richardson (Canada) d. 8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 10-15, 15-9, 11-10
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 12) Jin Seok (South Korea), 9-15, 15-7, 11-4
13) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-11
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-0
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 11) Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-1, 15-0
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 10) Maiko Sato (Japan), 15-6, 15-3
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-14, 14-15, 11-7
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 9) Christine Richardson (Canada)
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 13) Carla Muñoz (Chile)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men’s Singles - Round of 16
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. 17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-12, 15-2
8) Javier Mar (Mexico) d. 9) Yuki Nakano (Japan), 15-5, 15-6
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 12) Hirotake Usami (Japan), 15-5, 15-9
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-11, 15-5
3) Chris Crowther (USA) d. 14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-8, 15-8
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-11, 13-15, 11-1
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 7) Roland Keller (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-0
18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-10, 10-15, 11-7
Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 8) Javier Mar (Mexico)
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
3) Chris Crowther (USA) v. 6) Samuel Murray (Canada)
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Day 1 of Medal Round at 18th IRF World Championships
Mariana Tobon of Venezuela had the first big upset of the medal round, as she defeated American Michelle Key, 4-15, 15-9, 11-4, in the Women’s Singles Round of 32 at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia. The win puts Tobon against 3rd seed Samantha Salas of Mexico in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
Only one other match has gone tie-breaker so far on Tuesday, when Christine Richardson of Canada defeated Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-7, 5-15, 11-7. Richardson will play the other Dominican players in the 16s on Wednesday, as Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) beat Majella Haventry of Ireland, 15-4, 15-3, in the 32s.
Also of note, defending Women’s Singles champion Paola Longoria of Mexico will play Bolivian Jenny Daza in her first medal round match on Wednesday, as Daza was a winner over Mariana Paredes of Venezuela, 15-7, 15-12, on Tuesday.
There will be live streaming of medal round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. 17) Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-12
9) Christine Richardson (Canada) d. 24) Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 5-15, 11-7
8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. 25) Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-4, 15-3
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 28) Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 15-4, 15-4
12) Jin Seok (South Korea) d. 21) Pia Dati (Argentina), 15-3, 15-1
13) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 20) Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-7
4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 29) Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-1
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. 14) Michelle Key (USA), 4-15, 15-9, 11-4
11) Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. 22) Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-7, 15-14
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 27) Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-6, 15-7
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 26) Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-7, 15-6
10) Maiko Sato (Japan) d. 23) Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-9
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 18) Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-6, 15-6
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Women's Singles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia)
8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Christine Richardson (Canada)
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 12) Jin Seok (South Korea)
4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 13) Carla Muñoz (Chile)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 11) Michèle Morissette (Canada)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 10) Maiko Sato (Japan)
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men's Singles - Preliminary Round
Sriram Ravindran (India) d. Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia)
Timothy Baghurst (England) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
Rajiv Varadhrajan (India) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico)
Round of 32
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-2, 15-3
17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. 16) Casar Castillo (Venezuela), 15-13, 4-15, 11-5
9) Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. 24) Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-12, 15-9
8) Javier Mar (Mexico) d. 25) Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-10
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 28) Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-5
12) Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. 21) Franco Capandegui (Argentina), 15-4, 15-9
13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 20) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-12
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 29) Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-10, 15-2
3) Chris Crowther (USA) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), 15-5, 15-7
14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. 19) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 5-15, 15-6, 11-7
11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 22) Im Ji Soo (South Korea), 14-15, 15-9, 11-9
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 27) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-8
7) Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. 26) Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-10, 9-15, 11-3
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 23) Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-2
18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 15) Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-7, 15-11
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-0, 15-3
Round of 16
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia)
9) Yuki Nakano (Japan) v. 8) Javier Mar (Mexico)
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 12) Hirotake Usami (Japan)
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
3) Chris Crowther (USA) v. 14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
7) Roland Keller (Bolivia) v. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Only one other match has gone tie-breaker so far on Tuesday, when Christine Richardson of Canada defeated Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-7, 5-15, 11-7. Richardson will play the other Dominican players in the 16s on Wednesday, as Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) beat Majella Haventry of Ireland, 15-4, 15-3, in the 32s.
Also of note, defending Women’s Singles champion Paola Longoria of Mexico will play Bolivian Jenny Daza in her first medal round match on Wednesday, as Daza was a winner over Mariana Paredes of Venezuela, 15-7, 15-12, on Tuesday.
There will be live streaming of medal round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Women's Singles - Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. 17) Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-12
9) Christine Richardson (Canada) d. 24) Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 5-15, 11-7
8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. 25) Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-4, 15-3
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 28) Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 15-4, 15-4
12) Jin Seok (South Korea) d. 21) Pia Dati (Argentina), 15-3, 15-1
13) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 20) Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-7
4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. 29) Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-1
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. 14) Michelle Key (USA), 4-15, 15-9, 11-4
11) Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. 22) Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-7, 15-14
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 27) Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-6, 15-7
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 26) Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-7, 15-6
10) Maiko Sato (Japan) d. 23) Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-9
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 18) Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-6, 15-6
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Women's Singles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia)
8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Christine Richardson (Canada)
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 12) Jin Seok (South Korea)
4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 13) Carla Muñoz (Chile)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 11) Michèle Morissette (Canada)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 10) Maiko Sato (Japan)
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. 15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Men's Singles - Preliminary Round
Sriram Ravindran (India) d. Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia)
Timothy Baghurst (England) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
Rajiv Varadhrajan (India) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico)
Round of 32
1) Rocky Carson (USA) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-2, 15-3
17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. 16) Casar Castillo (Venezuela), 15-13, 4-15, 11-5
9) Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. 24) Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-12, 15-9
8) Javier Mar (Mexico) d. 25) Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-10
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 28) Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-5
12) Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. 21) Franco Capandegui (Argentina), 15-4, 15-9
13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 20) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-12
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 29) Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-10, 15-2
3) Chris Crowther (USA) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), 15-5, 15-7
14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. 19) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 5-15, 15-6, 11-7
11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 22) Im Ji Soo (South Korea), 14-15, 15-9, 11-9
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 27) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-8
7) Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. 26) Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-10, 9-15, 11-3
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 23) Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-2
18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 15) Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-7, 15-11
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-0, 15-3
Round of 16
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. 17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia)
9) Yuki Nakano (Japan) v. 8) Javier Mar (Mexico)
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 12) Hirotake Usami (Japan)
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
3) Chris Crowther (USA) v. 14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
7) Roland Keller (Bolivia) v. 10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Medal Round Preview at 18th IRF World Championships
The elimination round draws are out for the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, and the first matches will be played in Men’s and Women’s Singles on Tuesday with Men’s and Women’s Doubles to begin on Wednesday.
Four time defending Men’s Singles champion Rocky Carson of the USA will have a tough road in defense of his title, as he’ll likely play Mexican Javier Mar in the quarterfinals and then in the semi-finals probably either Fernando Rios of Ecuador or Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia in the semi-finals, and Mexican Daniel De La Rosa will likely face Carson in the final.
Two defending Women’s Singles champion Paola Longoria of Mexico could face Bolivian Jenny Daza in her first elimination round match, and Daza played Longoria tough earlier this year at the Pan American Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. If Longoria gets past that, she’ll likely see Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals and one of Rhonda Rajisch (USA), Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) or team-mate Samantha Salas.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles - Preliminary Round
Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia) v. Sriram Ravindran (India)
Timothy Baghurst (England) v. Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
John Maisonet (Puerto Rico) v. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India)
Round of 32
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. TBD
16) Casar Castillo (Venezuela) v. 17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia)
9) Yuki Nakano (Japan) v. 24) Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
8) Javier Mar (Mexico) v. 25) Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico)
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 28) Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
12) Hirotake Usami (Japan) v. 21) Franco Capandegui (Argentina)
13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 20) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 29) Raul Banegas (Honduras)
3) Chris Crowther (USA) v. TBD
14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) v. 19) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica)
11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 22) Im Ji Soo (South Korea)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 27) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
7) Roland Keller (Bolivia) v. 26) Pedro Castro (Canada)
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 23) Alejandro Santos (Venezuela)
15) Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic)
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. TBD
Women's Singles - Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia) v. 17) Mariana Paredes (Venezuela)
9) Christine Richardson (Canada) v. 24) Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. 25) Majella Haventry (Ireland)
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 28) Carolina Gomez (Columbia)
12) Jin Seok (South Korea) v. 21) Pia Dati (Argentina)
13) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 20) Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala)
4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 29) Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
14) Michelle Key (USA) v. 19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
11) Michèle Morissette (Canada) v. 22) Jung Eun Ane (Korea)
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 27) Donna Ryder (Ireland)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 26) Harumi Kajino (Japan)
10) Maiko Sato (Japan) v. 23) Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador)
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 18) Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Men's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 16) Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea)
8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) v. 9) Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)
5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) v. 12) Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) v. 13) Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. 14) Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico)
6) Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan) v. 11) Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala)
7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 10) Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela)
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. 15) Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India)
Women's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) - BYE
8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 9) Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia)
5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 12) Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 13) Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland)
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
6) Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) v. 11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) v. 10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Four time defending Men’s Singles champion Rocky Carson of the USA will have a tough road in defense of his title, as he’ll likely play Mexican Javier Mar in the quarterfinals and then in the semi-finals probably either Fernando Rios of Ecuador or Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia in the semi-finals, and Mexican Daniel De La Rosa will likely face Carson in the final.
Two defending Women’s Singles champion Paola Longoria of Mexico could face Bolivian Jenny Daza in her first elimination round match, and Daza played Longoria tough earlier this year at the Pan American Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. If Longoria gets past that, she’ll likely see Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals and one of Rhonda Rajisch (USA), Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) or team-mate Samantha Salas.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on the IRF YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles - Preliminary Round
Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia) v. Sriram Ravindran (India)
Timothy Baghurst (England) v. Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
John Maisonet (Puerto Rico) v. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India)
Round of 32
1) Rocky Carson (USA) v. TBD
16) Casar Castillo (Venezuela) v. 17) Alejandro Herrera (Colombia)
9) Yuki Nakano (Japan) v. 24) Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
8) Javier Mar (Mexico) v. 25) Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico)
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 28) Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
12) Hirotake Usami (Japan) v. 21) Franco Capandegui (Argentina)
13) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 20) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)
4) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 29) Raul Banegas (Honduras)
3) Chris Crowther (USA) v. TBD
14) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) v. 19) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica)
11) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 22) Im Ji Soo (South Korea)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 27) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
7) Roland Keller (Bolivia) v. 26) Pedro Castro (Canada)
10) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 23) Alejandro Santos (Venezuela)
15) Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. 18) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic)
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. TBD
Women's Singles - Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
16) Jenny Daza (Bolivia) v. 17) Mariana Paredes (Venezuela)
9) Christine Richardson (Canada) v. 24) Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
8) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. 25) Majella Haventry (Ireland)
5) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 28) Carolina Gomez (Columbia)
12) Jin Seok (South Korea) v. 21) Pia Dati (Argentina)
13) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 20) Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala)
4) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 29) Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
14) Michelle Key (USA) v. 19) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
11) Michèle Morissette (Canada) v. 22) Jung Eun Ane (Korea)
6) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 27) Donna Ryder (Ireland)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 26) Harumi Kajino (Japan)
10) Maiko Sato (Japan) v. 23) Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador)
15) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 18) Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Men's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) v. 16) Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea)
8) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) v. 9) Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)
5) Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) v. 12) Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
4) Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) v. 13) Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
3) Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. 14) Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico)
6) Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan) v. 11) Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala)
7) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 10) Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela)
2) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. 15) Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India)
Women's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) - BYE
8) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 9) Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia)
5) Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 12) Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
4) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 13) Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland)
3) Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
6) Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) v. 11) Pia Dati & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) v. 10) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
2) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, July 18, 2016
18th IRF World Championships - Day 3
Monday is the final day of group play at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia. After today’s matches, the elimination round draws will be created based on the group play results.
In early play today, former World Champion American Rhonda Rajsich needed a tie-breaker to defeat Maria Rene Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-14, 13-15, 11-4. Rajsich and Rodriguez have both played tie-breakers in their groups with Rajisch winning both and Rodriguez losing both (Jenny Daza of Bolivia was other player in their group). Rajsich’s wins will put her 2nd in the elimination draw.
A shout out to the #2 Colombian Women’s Singles player, Carolina Gomez, who has played three tie-breakers in Cali, but sadly she’s lost them all. Today, Jung Eun Ane of South Korea got the better of Gomez, 14-15, 15-14, 11-2.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on their YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-4
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group B
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia), 15-1, 15-4
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-7
Group C
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Casar Castillo (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-5
Franco Capandegui (Argentina) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Group D
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-6, 15-9
Im Ji Soo (South Korea) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-11, 15-9
Group E
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-5
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-2
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-2
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 6-15, 15-7, 11-5
Group G
Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-2, 15-0
Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico), 15-7, 15-5
Group H
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-11
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d.Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-13, 15-11
Group I
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-5, 15-1
Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-9
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-14, 13-15, 11-4
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group D
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-0, 15-9
Michelle Key (USA) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-1
Group E
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-1, 15-9
Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador) d. d. Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-1, 15-8
Group F
Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-13, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Jin Seok (South Korea), 14-15, 15-9, 11-7
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-1, 15-3
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-10, 15-7
Group H
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 14-15, 15-14, 11-2
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Maiko Sato (Japan), 15-12, 15-11
Men's Doubles
Group A
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-3
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-2, 15-4
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-6, 11-2
Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-5
Group C
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-3, 15-5
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-14
Group D
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea), 15-3, 15-5
Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 8-15, 15-5, 11-6
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Cecilia Cerquetti & Pia Dati (Argentina), 15-0, 8-4 [sic]
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-9
Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) - BYE
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-7
Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - BYE
Group D
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-1, 15-5
Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 11-15, 15-14, 11-6
Follow the bouncing ball....
In early play today, former World Champion American Rhonda Rajsich needed a tie-breaker to defeat Maria Rene Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-14, 13-15, 11-4. Rajsich and Rodriguez have both played tie-breakers in their groups with Rajisch winning both and Rodriguez losing both (Jenny Daza of Bolivia was other player in their group). Rajsich’s wins will put her 2nd in the elimination draw.
A shout out to the #2 Colombian Women’s Singles player, Carolina Gomez, who has played three tie-breakers in Cali, but sadly she’s lost them all. Today, Jung Eun Ane of South Korea got the better of Gomez, 14-15, 15-14, 11-2.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website. Also, the IRF is posting videos of some of the matches, and interviews with the players on their YouTube channel.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-4
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group B
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia), 15-1, 15-4
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-7
Group C
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Casar Castillo (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-5
Franco Capandegui (Argentina) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Group D
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-6, 15-9
Im Ji Soo (South Korea) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-11, 15-9
Group E
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-5
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-2
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-2
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 6-15, 15-7, 11-5
Group G
Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-2, 15-0
Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico), 15-7, 15-5
Group H
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-11
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d.Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-13, 15-11
Group I
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-5, 15-1
Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-9
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-14, 13-15, 11-4
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group D
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-0, 15-9
Michelle Key (USA) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-1
Group E
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-1, 15-9
Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador) d. d. Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-1, 15-8
Group F
Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-13, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Jin Seok (South Korea), 14-15, 15-9, 11-7
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-1, 15-3
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-10, 15-7
Group H
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 14-15, 15-14, 11-2
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Maiko Sato (Japan), 15-12, 15-11
Men's Doubles
Group A
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-3
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-2, 15-4
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-6, 11-2
Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-5
Group C
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-3, 15-5
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-14
Group D
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea), 15-3, 15-5
Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 8-15, 15-5, 11-6
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Cecilia Cerquetti & Pia Dati (Argentina), 15-0, 8-4 [sic]
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-9
Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) - BYE
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-7
Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - BYE
Group D
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-1, 15-5
Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 11-15, 15-14, 11-6
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, July 17, 2016
18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships - Day 2
Another day of group play at the 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Cali, Colombia, and more 11-10 tie-breakers. The first two have come in Women's Singles, as Bolivian Jenny Daza defeated Maria Rene Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-8, 4-15, 11-10, and Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic narrowly got the better of Jung Eun Ane of South Korea, 10-15, 15-14, 11-10.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles
Group A
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-5
Rocky Carson (USA) - BYE
Group B
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-4
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia), 15-2, 15-7
Group C
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), 15-6, 15-3
Casar Castillo (Venezuela) d. Franco Capandegui (Argentina), 15-5, 15-8
Group D
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-7, 15-8
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Im Ji Soo (South Korea), 15-5, 15-5
Group E
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-4
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-12
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 13-15, 15-8, 11-1
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 11-15, 15-7, 11-4
Group G
Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-1
Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-3, 15-1
Group H
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-7
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-11, 15-12
Group I
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-3
Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-5, 15-4
Women's Singles
Group A
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-11
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-8, 4-15, 11-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group C
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-3
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2
Michelle Key (USA) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-2, 15-5
Group E
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-7, 15-14
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-7
Group F
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-3
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-10, 15-7
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-3, 15-6
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-5, 15-2
Group H
Maiko Sato (Japan) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 15-3, 11-15, 11-8
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 10-15, 15-14, 11-10
Men's Doubles
Group A
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-5, 15-6
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecoador) d. Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-4
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-6
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-4
Group C
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-11
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-0, 15-2
Group D
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-6, 15-4
Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea) d. Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-9, 8-15, 11-6
Women's Doubles
Group A
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) d. Cecilia Cerquetti & Pia Dati (Argentina), 15-10, 13-15, 11-1
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-7, 15-5
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - BYE
Group C
Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-12, 15-2
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
Group D
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) d. Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-13, 8-15, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball....
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles
Group A
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-5
Rocky Carson (USA) - BYE
Group B
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-4
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Djoko Boentaran (Indonesia), 15-2, 15-7
Group C
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), 15-6, 15-3
Casar Castillo (Venezuela) d. Franco Capandegui (Argentina), 15-5, 15-8
Group D
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-7, 15-8
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Im Ji Soo (South Korea), 15-5, 15-5
Group E
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-4
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-12
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 13-15, 15-8, 11-1
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 11-15, 15-7, 11-4
Group G
Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-1
Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-3, 15-1
Group H
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-7
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-11, 15-12
Group I
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-3
Yuki Nakano (Japan) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-5, 15-4
Women's Singles
Group A
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-11
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-8, 4-15, 11-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group C
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-3
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2
Michelle Key (USA) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-2, 15-5
Group E
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-7, 15-14
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-7
Group F
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-3
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-10, 15-7
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-3, 15-6
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-5, 15-2
Group H
Maiko Sato (Japan) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 15-3, 11-15, 11-8
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 10-15, 15-14, 11-10
Men's Doubles
Group A
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-5, 15-6
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecoador) d. Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-4
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-6
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-4
Group C
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-11
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-0, 15-2
Group D
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-6, 15-4
Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea) d. Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-9, 8-15, 11-6
Women's Doubles
Group A
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) d. Cecilia Cerquetti & Pia Dati (Argentina), 15-10, 13-15, 11-1
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-7, 15-5
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - BYE
Group C
Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-12, 15-2
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
Group D
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) d. Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-13, 8-15, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, July 16, 2016
18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships - Day 1
The 18th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships began today in Cali, Colombia, where three days of group play started. The results of the group stage will be used to seed players for an elimination round that will determine this year's World Champions.
The current World Champions are in Cali to defend their respective titles: Paola Longoria of Mexico in Women's Singles and Doubles with Samantha Salas, as well as American Rocky Carson, who's looking to win a 5th consecutive Men's Singles World Championship, and the Colombian Men's Doubles Champions: Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera.
Franco and Herrera defeated Canadians Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon two years ago, and they were up against Green and Tim Landeryou on Day 1 this year, so it was a chance to prove their championship wasn't a fluke, and they did so, defeating Canada, 10-15, 15-3, 11-2.
There weren't many matches that went tie-breaker on Day 1, unless you were American in which case tie-breakers seemed to be the rule. In Women's Doubles the 2014 silver medalists, Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger of the USA needed three games to get by South Koreans Jin Seok and Jung Eun Ane, 6-15, 15-8 11-1. The American Men's Doubles team went breaker with Ecuador, as Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz narrowly defeated Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 6-15, 11-10.
In Women's Singles, both former World Champion Rhonda Rajsich and Michelle Key played breakers with Rajsich winning against Jenny Daza of Bolivia, 12-15, 15-2, 11-10, but Key losing to Bolivian Adriana Riveros, 1-15, 15-6, 11-4.
Contrary to "the American way" of tie-breakers on Saturday, their Men's Singles players won their matches in two straight games. Carson won the first match of his title defence by defeating Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) in two straight games, 15-6, 15-10. And Chris Crowther, making his first appearance on Team USA since 2011, beat Franco Capandegui of Argentina, 15-6, 15-3.
Carson's title defence could be more difficult than usual, as Mexican Daniel De La Rosa is seeded 9th. The seedings are based on performances at the three recent Worlds, and Mexico's men's results have not been great. Hence, De La Rosa's low seed.
Thus, if De La Rosa and Carson win their groups, they may meet in the quarterfinals. However, from the group stage results players seedings outside of the top four are not assured. That is, a player seeded 9th may end up on the top of the draw, with Carson, or not.
A similar situation could happen in Women's Singles, as Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina could be the 5th seed coming out of the group stage, which may put her on the same side of the draw as Longoria. Thus, they would potentially meet prior to the final.
Closest match of the day goes to Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic and Colombian Carolina Gomez, as Cespedes won in a tie-breaker, 13-15, 15-14, 11-10.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles
Group Ad
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-10
Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE
Group B
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-7, 15-13
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Djoko Boentaran (INA), 15-6, 15-0
Group C
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Franco Capandegui (Argentina), 15-6, 15-3
Casar Castillo (Venezuela) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), 15-4, 15-6
Group D
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Im Ji Soo (South Korea), 15-11, 15-7
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2
Group E
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-5, 15-2
Alejandro Santos (Venezuela) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-4, 15-0
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-10, 15-12
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-8, 13-15, 11-2
Group G
Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Hirotake Usami (Japan), 15-6, 15-10
Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-6, 15-8
Group H
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-1, 15-12
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-12
Group I
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Yuki Nakano (Japan), 15-4, 15-5
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-10, 15-10
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 12-15, 15-2, 11-10
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-2, 15-10
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Group D
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Michelle Key (USA), 1-15, 15-6, 11-4
Pamela Sierra (Honduras) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-8
Group E
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-12
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-4, 15-6
Group F
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-4, 15-13
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-3
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-1, 15-5
Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-12, 12-15, 11-6
Group H
Maiko Sato (Japan) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-13, 15-8
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 13-15, 15-14, 11-10
Men's Doubles
Group A
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecoador), 15-7, 6-15, 11-10
Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala) d. Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-12, 15-12
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-2, 15-10
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-6
Group C
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada), 10-15, 15-3, 11-2
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-9, 15-2
Group D
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-7
Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea), 15-9, 15-6
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-2
Cecilia Cerquetti & Pia Dati (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 6-15, 15-8 11-1
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-3
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) - BYE
Group D
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan), 15-12, 15-8
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-5, 15-3
Follow the bouncing ball....
The current World Champions are in Cali to defend their respective titles: Paola Longoria of Mexico in Women's Singles and Doubles with Samantha Salas, as well as American Rocky Carson, who's looking to win a 5th consecutive Men's Singles World Championship, and the Colombian Men's Doubles Champions: Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera.
Franco and Herrera defeated Canadians Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon two years ago, and they were up against Green and Tim Landeryou on Day 1 this year, so it was a chance to prove their championship wasn't a fluke, and they did so, defeating Canada, 10-15, 15-3, 11-2.
There weren't many matches that went tie-breaker on Day 1, unless you were American in which case tie-breakers seemed to be the rule. In Women's Doubles the 2014 silver medalists, Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger of the USA needed three games to get by South Koreans Jin Seok and Jung Eun Ane, 6-15, 15-8 11-1. The American Men's Doubles team went breaker with Ecuador, as Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz narrowly defeated Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 6-15, 11-10.
In Women's Singles, both former World Champion Rhonda Rajsich and Michelle Key played breakers with Rajsich winning against Jenny Daza of Bolivia, 12-15, 15-2, 11-10, but Key losing to Bolivian Adriana Riveros, 1-15, 15-6, 11-4.
Contrary to "the American way" of tie-breakers on Saturday, their Men's Singles players won their matches in two straight games. Carson won the first match of his title defence by defeating Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) in two straight games, 15-6, 15-10. And Chris Crowther, making his first appearance on Team USA since 2011, beat Franco Capandegui of Argentina, 15-6, 15-3.
Carson's title defence could be more difficult than usual, as Mexican Daniel De La Rosa is seeded 9th. The seedings are based on performances at the three recent Worlds, and Mexico's men's results have not been great. Hence, De La Rosa's low seed.
Thus, if De La Rosa and Carson win their groups, they may meet in the quarterfinals. However, from the group stage results players seedings outside of the top four are not assured. That is, a player seeded 9th may end up on the top of the draw, with Carson, or not.
A similar situation could happen in Women's Singles, as Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina could be the 5th seed coming out of the group stage, which may put her on the same side of the draw as Longoria. Thus, they would potentially meet prior to the final.
Closest match of the day goes to Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic and Colombian Carolina Gomez, as Cespedes won in a tie-breaker, 13-15, 15-14, 11-10.
There will be live streaming of some elimination round matches beginning on Thursday via the IRF website.
18th IRF World Championships
July 15-23, 2016
Cali, Colombia
Men's Singles
Group Ad
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-10
Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE
Group B
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-7, 15-13
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Djoko Boentaran (INA), 15-6, 15-0
Group C
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Franco Capandegui (Argentina), 15-6, 15-3
Casar Castillo (Venezuela) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), 15-4, 15-6
Group D
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Im Ji Soo (South Korea), 15-11, 15-7
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2
Group E
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-5, 15-2
Alejandro Santos (Venezuela) d. John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-4, 15-0
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-10, 15-12
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-8, 13-15, 11-2
Group G
Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Hirotake Usami (Japan), 15-6, 15-10
Aaron Booker (Puerto Rico) d. Sriram Ravindran (India), 15-6, 15-8
Group H
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-1, 15-12
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-12
Group I
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Yuki Nakano (Japan), 15-4, 15-5
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Rajiv Varadhrajan (India), 15-10, 15-10
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 12-15, 15-2, 11-10
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-2, 15-10
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Group D
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Michelle Key (USA), 1-15, 15-6, 11-4
Pamela Sierra (Honduras) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-8
Group E
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Ivonne Carpio (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-12
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Majella Haventry (Ireland), 15-4, 15-6
Group F
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-4, 15-13
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-3
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-1, 15-5
Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-12, 12-15, 11-6
Group H
Maiko Sato (Japan) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-13, 15-8
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 13-15, 15-14, 11-10
Men's Doubles
Group A
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz (USA) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecoador), 15-7, 6-15, 11-10
Juan Salvatierra & Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala) d. Raul Banegas & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-12, 15-12
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Franco Capandegui & Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-2, 15-10
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Aaron Booker & John Maisonet (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-6
Group C
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada), 10-15, 15-3, 11-2
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Alok Mehta & Thirumurugan Thiyagarajan (India), 15-9, 15-2
Group D
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco (Bolivia) d. Luis Reveron & Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-7
Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Daeyong Kwon & Park Ju Yong (South Korea), 15-9, 15-6
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-2
Cecilia Cerquetti & Pia Dati (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 6-15, 15-8 11-1
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Jenny Daza & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-3
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) - BYE
Group D
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Harumi Kajino & Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan), 15-12, 15-8
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. Majella Haventry & Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-5, 15-3
Follow the bouncing ball....
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