Ecuador wins a close one as the doubles medal round begins at 20th IRF World Championships

No real surprises in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles on Thursday at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as play in the medal round began. But there was one barn burner of a match in Men’s Doubles, made more exciting by having the home country involved. However, in the end it was Ecuador who carried the day, as Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador eked out a win over Edwin Galicia and Christen Wer of Guatemala, 15-14, 15-14. The win puts Ecuador up against Americans Alejandro Landa and Charlie Pratt in the quarters on Saturday. The USA beat Ecuador 11-10 in the group stage, so you know Ecuador will be looking to get revenge for that loss.

Live streaming is happening from Guatemala! Check with the (IRF on Facebook for streams, including a replay of that Ecuador-Guatemala barn burner.

20th IRF World Championships
November 29-December 6 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Men's Doubles Round of 16 - Thursday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) d. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-3, 15-3

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-14
Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-11, 15-4

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-5, 15-10
Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - BYE

Men's Doubles Quarterfinals - Saturday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) - 4 PM
Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) v. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 4 PM

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 4 PM
Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 4 PM

Women's Doubles  Round of 16 - Thursday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Katie Kenny & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-8, 15-13

Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE
Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE

Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-3, 15-8
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Women's Doubles  Quarterfinals - Saturday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) - 4 PM
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 4 PM

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - 4 PM
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - 4 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....