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)

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