Argentina & Canada win team titles at 2026 IRF World Championships

Argentina and Canada won the Women’s and Men’s Team events, respectively, Saturday at the 23rd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Temuco, Chile. It’s the first team win for Argentina ever, and the first year since 2010 that Mexico did not win the Women’s Team title. Canada’s win is their first Men’s Team title since 2002, and their sixth men’s title overall.

Both finals were over in two straight matches. In the women’s final, Argentina defeated the USA, 2-0. First, Argentina's Natalia Mendez beat American Lexi York, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7, and then Maria Jose Vargas - who had won the Women’s Singles title earlier in the week - defeated Michelle Andersen, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8.

Canada beat Mexico, 2-0 in the men's final. Canadian Coby Iwaasa beat Mexican Andree Parrilla, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, and then Samuel Murray came back from a game down to defeat Eduardo Portillo, 3-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6.

The four team final matches are available on the IRF YouTube channel.

23rd IRF World Championships
October 16-24, 2026 - Temuco, Chile

Men's Team Competition

Final - Saturday

4) Canada d. 2) Mexico, 2-0

Coby Iwaasa d. Andree Parrilla, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6
Samuel Murray d. Eduardo Portillo, 3-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6
Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo v. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray - Not played

Women's Team Competition

Final - Saturday

1) Argentina d. 3) USA, 2-0

Natalia Mendez d. Lexi York, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7
Maria Jose Vargas d. Michelle Andersen, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8
Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas v. Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla - Not played

Follow the bouncing ball....

Four countries going for team gold at 2026 IRF World Championships

Four countries will be vying for the team titles at the 23rd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Temuco, Chile on Saturday. The Men’s Team final is Mexico versus Canada, while Argentina plays the USA in the Women’s Team final. This is the first year since 2010 that Mexico will not win the Women’s Team title.

In the men’s semi-finals, Mexico needed three matches to get past the USA, 2-1, while Canada beat Bolivia in two straight matches. American Adam Manilla came back from two games down to defeat Mexican Andree Parrilla, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6. But Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo edged Sam Bredenbeck and DJ Mendoza, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, and then Portillo beat Jake Bredenbeck, 11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, to win the match for Mexico.

In the other semi, Canadian Coby Iwaasa defeated Bolivian Mario Mercado in three straight games, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6, and then teamed up with Samuel Murray to beat Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso, 11-5, 13-11, 1-11, 11-6.

In the women’s semis, Argentina defeated Ecuador two straight, while the USA needed three matches to get past Mexico. Argentinian Natalia Mendez beat Maria Mendieta, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4, and then Valeria Centellas and Maria Jose Vargas defeated Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5.

In the other semi, American Lexi York beat Mexican Jessica Parrilla in three straight games, 11-4, 11-7, 12-10. Then Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Samantha Salas defeated Americans Michelle Andersen and Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7. Thus, it was all down to Andersen versus Herrera, and it was the American who outlasted the Mexican, winning 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 13-11, to advance to the final.

The finals will have the two singles matches played first followed by the doubles match, if necessary.

The IRF will live stream all of the team final matches from Temuco via their YouTube channel.

23rd IRF World Championships
October 16-24, 2026 - Temuco, Chile

Note: some of the match results below are incomplete.

Men's Team Competition

Final - Saturday

2) Mexico v. 4) Canada

Andree Parrilla v. Coby Iwaasa - 9 AM
Eduardo Portillo v. Samuel Murray - 10:30 AM
Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo v. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray - Noon (if necessary)

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Canada d. 1) Bolivia, 2-0

Coby Iwaasa d. Mario Mercado, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray d. Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso, 11-5, 13-11, 1-11, 11-6

2) Mexico d. 3) USA, 2-1

Adam Manilla d. Andree Parrilla, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6
Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. Sam Bredenbeck & DJ Mendoza, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5
Eduardo Portillo d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Bolivia d. 8) Chile, 2-0

Mario Mercado d. Francisco Troncoso, 13-11, 11-3, 11-6
Conrrado Moscoso d. Alan Natera, forfeit

4) Canada d. 5) Ecuador, 2-0

Coby Iwaasa d. Pablo Vera, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2, 11-1
Samuel Murray d. Juan David Zea, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5

3) USA d. 6) Guatemala, 2-0

Adam Manilla d. Hector Sierra Mansilla, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
Jake Bredenbeck d. Juan Salvatierra, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4

2) Mexico d. 7) Costa Rica, 2-0

Andree Parrilla d. Alvaro Guillen, 11-4, 11-9, 11-4
Eduardo Portillo d. Gabriel Garcia

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Bolivia - BYE

8) Chile d. 9) Dominican Republic, 2-1

5) Ecuador d. 12) India

4) Canada d. 13) Argentina, 2-0

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray d. Lautaro Cufre & Fernando Kurzbard, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8
Coby Iwaasa d. Fernando Kurzbard, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5

3) USA - BYE

6) Guatemala d. 7) Japan, 2-0

Christian Aldana & Edwin Galicia d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Yasutaka Mizuno, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8
Hector Sierra Mansilla d. Yasutaka Mizuno, 11-7, 11-8, 11-2

7) Costa Rica d. 10) Ireland, 2-0

2) Mexico - BYE

Women's Team Competition

Final - Saturday

1) Argentina v. 3) USA

Natalia Mendez v. Lexi York - 9:45 AM
Maria Jose Vargas v. Michelle Andersen - 10:30 AM
Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas v. Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla - 12:45 PM (if necessary)

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Argentina d. 5) Ecuador, 2-0

Natalia Mendez d. Maria Mendieta, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5

3) USA d. 2) Mexico, 2-1

Lexi York d. Jessica Parrilla, 11-4, 11-7, 12-10
Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas d. Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7
Michelle Andersen d. Alexandra Herrera, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 13-11

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Argentina d. 8) Canada, 2-0

Natalia Mendez d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10
Maria Jose Vargas d. & Juliette Parent, 11-4, 11-7, 11-2

5) Ecuador d. 4) Chile, 2-1

Veronica Sotomayor d. Carla Muñoz, forfeit
Paula Mansilla d. Maria Emilia Quinde Mendieta, 14-12, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9
Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz d. Catalina Guzman & Paula Mansilla

3) USA d. 6) Bolivia, 2-1

Camila Rivero d. Lexi York, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Michelle Andersen d. Rebecca Amaya Argaya, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla d. Rebecca Amaya Argaya & Valeria Miranda Martinez, 12-10, 11-4, 14-12

2) Mexico d. 7) Costa Rica, 2-0
Jessica Parrilla d. Jimena Gomez, 11-9, 11-4, 11-3
Alexandra Herrera d. Larissa Faeth, 12-10, 11-1, 11-4

Round of 16 - Thursday

8) Canada d. 9) Japan, 2-0

Frédérique Lambert & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Marko Sato & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2
Juliette Parent d. Ayako Hanashi, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7

7) Costa Rica d. 10) Ireland

Jimena Gomez d. Toni Neary, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball....

Mexico wins three titles, Argentina & Bolivia once each at 2026 IRF World Championships

Mexicans won three World Championships Thursday at the 23rd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Temuco, Chile, taking the three doubles divisions, while the singles titles were split between Argentina and Bolivia.

Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas won Women’s Singles for the first time by defeating former World Champion Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 8-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3. Vargas, 33, was in the final of the first time, while Martinez played her fifth final, despite being only 27 years old.

Martinez won the first game of the final, but Vargas was dominant after that, as she kept Martinez moving around the court. After the first game, Martinez seemed to be rushing her shots, which didn’t help her cause.

Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso won his second Men’s Singles World Championship by defeating American Jake Bredenbeck, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10. He’d previously won in 2018. It was Bredenbeck’s second consecutive final, as he’d also reached the finals in 2024, when he lost to team-mate Daniel De La Rosa.

The final was closely fought, and it looked like Bredenbeck would force a tie-breaking fifth game, as he led for much of game four. However, Moscoso was able to come back and close out the match in four games.

The Women’s Doubles final did go to five games, although that looked unlikely early on as Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Samantha Salas won the first two games against Americans Michelle Andersen (née Key) and Erika Manilla. But Andersen and Manilla stepped it up and took the next two games to force a breaker.

But in the breaker, it was Mexico who took an early lead and held off the Americans, winning 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6. Both Herrera and Salas had won doubles at Worlds before. Herrera won for the second consecutive time (she did so with Montserrat Mejia in 2024), while Salas’s win was her sixth, with the previous five all coming with Paola Longoria. Salas’s first win was back in 2010.

The Men’s Doubles final was also a five game affair with Mexicans Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo eking out a victory over the Canadian defending champions Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6. It’s the first world championships for both Parrilla and Portillo.

Portillo had a chance to win it in game four, when they led 11-10 after fighting off three Canadian game points, but he skipped a clear forehand set up. If they hadn’t won in the end, that error would likely have kept Portillo up at night.

But in game five, Mexico never trailed, scoring the first two points and after a 2-2 tie, Mexico led the rest of the way. The end of the game and match was sad, as Portillo hit a defensive shot that was going to be a set up off the right wall for an Iwaasa forehand shot until it slid down the wall and was unplayable by the Canadian.

Salas won a second title in Temuco, as she and Rodrigo Montoya won Mixed Doubles for a second time, beating Guatemalans Edwin Galicia and Gabriela Martinez in the final, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6. Salas’s two titles give her eight (8!) for her career, which is second only to her long time doubles partner Paola Longoria’s 11. For his part, Montoya’s no slouch, as the mixed title was his fourth World Championship, and he is only one of two players (Daniel De La Rosa is the other) to have won singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Worlds.

Players will now play men’s and women’s team competitions, which are best of three matches (two singles matches and a doubles match) between countries beginning on Thursday. The defending Men’s Team champions are the USA, while Mexico are the defending Women’s Team champions.

The IRF is live streaming some of the matches from Temuco via their YouTube channel.

23rd IRF World Championships
October 16-24, 2026 - Temuco, Chile

Men's Singles

Final - Thursday

2) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA), 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10

Consolation Round

Final - Thursday

7) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. 5) Alvaro Guillen (Costa Rica), 11-3, 11-1, 11-1

Women's Singles - Medal Round

Final - Thursday

2) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 4) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 8-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3

Consolation Competition

Final - Thursday

4) Cristina Amaya (Italy) d. 6) Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia), 11-7, 11-7, 11-7

Men's Doubles

Final - Thursday

2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 1) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 12-10, 7-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6

Consolation Competition

Final - Thursday

4) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 2) Lautaro Cufre & Leandro Zurita (Argentina), 11-6, 11-6, 11-5

Women's Doubles - Medal Competition

Final - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 3) Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla (USA), 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6

Consolation Competition

Final - Wednesday

3) Frédérique Lambert & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 1) Catalina Guzman & Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-3, 11-8, 11-6

Mixed Doubles

Final - Thursday

2) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 4) Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-9, 11-6

Consolation Competition

Final - Thursday

2) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera (Chile) d. 1) Yasutaka Mizuno & Maiko Sato (Japan), 11-5, 11-5, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball....

23rd IRF World Championships underway in Chile

The 23rd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships have reached the finals in Temuco, Chile. Some finals are as expected, while others are surprising.

Perhaps the least surprising finalist is Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez, who is in the Women’s Singles final for the fifth time in six championships. Ironically, the time she missed the final was 2021, when Worlds was in her home country.

Martinez won Worlds in 2018, and was runner up to Mexico’s Paola Longoria the other four times. Longoria isn’t in Temuco, so Martinez will face Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas instead.

In the semi-finals, Martinez defeated Natalia Mendez of Argentina, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9, while Vargas beat Mexican Jessica Parrilla, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9. Earlier in the quarterfinals, Mendez had the main upset of this division, as she defeated top seed Alexandra Herrera of Mexico, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8.

The top seeds will face off in the Men’s Singles final, with #1 Jake Bredenbeck of the USA taking on #2 Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia. Bredenbeck reached the final by defeating Mexican Eduardo Portillo, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11, in one semi-final, while Moscoso beat Canadian Trevor Webb, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, in the other.

Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray will have a chance to defend their Men’s Doubles title, as they defeated Americans Adam Manilla and DJ Mendoza, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5, in the semi-finals. Standing in their way of a repeat are Mexicans Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo, who beat Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso, 13-11, 12-10, 11-3, in the other semi.

In Women’s Doubles, Mexican Alexandra Herrera also has a chance to win a second consecutive title, as she and Samantha Salas defeated Ecuador’s Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor, 11-2, 13-15, 11-6, 11-9, in the semi-finals. Their opponents will be Americans Michelle Andersen (née Key) and Erika Manilla, who upset 2nd seeds Valeria Centellas and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, in the other semi.

Herrera won doubles with Montserrat Mejia two years ago in San Antonio, while Salas has won five doubles titles, all with Paola Longoria. Their first was back in 2010.

Salas will also have a second chance at a world title this year, as she is in the Mixed Doubles final with Rodrigo Montoya. They beat Canadians Samuel Murray and Juliette Parent, 11-8, 12-10, 11-6, in the semi-finals. In a bit of a surprise, Salas and Montoya will face Guatemalans Edwin Galicia and Gabriela Martinez in the final, as Guatemala defeat the USA team of Adam and Erika Manilla, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6. It’s a surprise, because the Manillas are the current Pan American Games champions in Mixed Doubles, but they won’t be World Champions. At least not this year.

Overall, the finalists are from six different countries with Mexico in three finals, Guatemala and the USA in two each, and then one for Argentina, Bolivia and Canada.

Players were seeded into the medal round based on their results in the Group Stage. A team competition will begin later on Thursday after the individual finals have been completed. The defending Men’s Team champions are the USA, while Mexico are the defending Women’s Team champions.

The IRF is live streaming some of the matches from Temuco via their YouTube channel.

23rd IRF World Championships
October 16-24, 2026 - Temuco, Chile

Men's Singles - Medal Round

Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. 5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), 11-5, 11-6, 13-11
2) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 3) Trevor Webb (Canada), 11-6, 11-5, 11-6

Final - Thursday

1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. 2) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 10:30 AM

Quarterfinals - Wednesday

1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. 9) Juan David Zea (Ecuador), 11-2, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6
5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 4) Mario Mercado, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6

3) Trevor Webb (Canada) d. 11) Alan Natera (Chile), 6-11, 15-13, 11-8, 11-3
2) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico), 14-12, 11-6, 12-10

Round of 16 - Tuesday

1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. 16) Hector Sierra Mansilla, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
9) Juan David Zea (Ecuador) d. 8) Mark Murphy, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8

5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 12) Pablo Vera, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3
4) Mario Mercado d. 13) Juan Salvatierra, 11-5, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9

3) Trevor Webb (Canada) d. 14) Sam Bredenbeck (USA), 12-10, 11-9, 11-6
11) Alan Natera (Chile) d. 6) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-5, 11-4, 11-4

7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. 10) Gabriel Garcia, 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2
2) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 15) Leyton Gouldie (Canada),

Consolation Round

Semi-finals

5) Alvaro Guillen (Costa Rica) d. 8) Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 5-11, 11-3, 11-1, 11-9
7) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. 3) Hirotake Usami (Japan), 11-2, 11-9, 11-7

Final - Thursday

5) Alvaro Guillen (Costa Rica) v. 7) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 9 AM

Quarterfinals

8) Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. 1) Yasutaka Mizuno (Japan), 11-8, 11-3, 11-9
5) Alvaro Guillen (Costa Rica) d. 4) David Gonzalez (Peru), 11-2, 11-8, 12-10

3) Hirotake Usami (Japan) d. 6) Reece Young (Ireland), 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
7) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. 2) Vineet Singh (India), 11-8, 11-13, 11-4, 11-4

Round of 16

1) Yasutaka Mizuno (Japan) - BYE
8) Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. 9) Leandro Zurita (Argentina), 11-5, 11-7, 11-5

5) Alvaro Guillen (Costa Rica) d. 12) Carlos Eduardo Medrano Casco (Honduras), 11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-5
4) David Gonzalez (Peru) d. 13) Ravi Sohoni (India), 5-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8

3) Hirotake Usami (Japan) - BYE
6) Reece Young (Ireland) d. 11) Lautaro Cufre (Argentina), 10-12, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4

7) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. 10) Joseph Limonciello (Italy), 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4
2) Vineet Singh (India) - BYE

Women's Singles - Medal Round

Semi-finals - Wednesday

4) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 9) Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 3) Jessica Parrilla (Mexico), 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9

Final - Thursday

2) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 4) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 9:45 AM

Quarterfinals - Wednesday

9) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 1) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8
4) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 12) Veronica Sotomayor, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8

3) Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) d. 6) Lexi York (USA), 11-7, 11-7, 11-8

2) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 10) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-5, 11-7, 11-5

Round of 16 - Tuesday

1) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - BYE
9) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 8) Michelle Andersen (USA), 11-7, 11-8, 11-7

12) Veronica Sotomayor d. 5) Camila Rivero (Bolivia), 11-6, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5
4) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

3) Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) - BYE
6) Lexi York (USA) d. (11) Paula Mansilla (Chile), 14-12, 11-3, 11-5

10) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 7) Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 11-7, 11-9, 11-5

2) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Consolation Competition

Semi-finals - Wednesday

4) Cristina Amaya (Italy) d. 8) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
6) Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia) d. 2) Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 11-3, 11-3, 11-2

Final - Thursday

4) Cristina Amaya (Italy) v. 6) Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia) - 9 AM

Quarterfinals - Wednesday

8) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) d. 1) Maria Emilia Quinde Mendieta (Ecuador), 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 13-11
4) Cristina Amaya (Italy) d. 5) Ayako Hanashi (Japan), 11-3, 11-4, 11-1

6) Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia) d. 3) Chloe Jauvin (Canada), 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
2) Marjolaine Parent (Canada) d. 7) Saki Kokido (Japan), 11-7, 11-3, 11-5

Round of 16

1) Maria Emilia Quinde Mendieta (Ecuador) - BYE
8) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) d. 9) Toni Neary (Ireland), 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8

5) Ayako Hanashi (Japan) - BYE
4) Cristina Amaya (Italy) - BYE

3) Chloe Jauvin (Canada) - BYE
6) Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia) - BYE

7) Saki Kokido (Japan) d. 10) Elaine Murphy, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 2-11, 11-7
2) Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - BYE

Men's Doubles - Medal Round

Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 8) Yasutaka Mizuno & Hiroshi Shimizu (Japan), 11-4, 11-4, 11-9
4) Adam Manilla & DJ Mendoza (USA) d. 5) Felipe Camacho & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5

3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 6) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Christian Aldana & Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 11-5, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 14-12

Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 4) Adam Manilla & DJ Mendoza (USA), 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 13-11, 12-10, 11-3

Final - Thursday

1) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - 12:45 PM

Consolation Competition

Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Johan Igor & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. (Chile) - BYE
4) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 4) Sean Lyng & Scott Young (Ireland), 11-8, 11-9, 11-6

3) Alok Mehta & Pratham Vilekar (India) - BYE
2) Lautaro Cufre & Leandro Zurita (Argentina) - BYE

Semi-finals - Wednesday

4) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 1) Johan Igor & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. (Chile), 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6
2) Lautaro Cufre & Leandro Zurita (Argentina) d. 3) Alok Mehta & Pratham Vilekar (India), 11-2, 7-11, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11

Final - Thursday

2) Lautaro Cufre & Leandro Zurita (Argentina) v. 4) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - 9:45 AM

Women's Doubles - Medal Competition

Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 5) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 11-2, 13-15, 11-6, 11-9
3) Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla (USA) d. 2) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8

Final - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 3) Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla (USA) - Noon

Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
5) Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. 4) Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-2, 11-5

3) Michelle Andersen & Erika Manilla (USA) d. 6) Rebecca Amaya Ardaya & Valeria Miranda Martinez (Bolivia), 11-5, 11-6, 11-7
2) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Consolation Competition

Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Catalina Guzman & Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. 4) Cara Delaney & Niamh Murphy (Ireland)
3) Frédérique Lambert & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 2) Maiko Sato & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 11-9, 11-5, 11-7

Final - Wednesday

3) Frédérique Lambert & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 1) Catalina Guzman & Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-3, 11-8, 11-6

Mixed Doubles - Medal Competition

Semi-finals - Wednesday

4) Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 1) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla (USA), 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 3) Samuel Murray & Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-8, 12-10, 11-6

Final - Thursday

2) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 4) Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 2:15 PM

Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla (USA) d. 8) Larissa Faeth & Alvaro Guillen (Costa Rica), 13-11, 11-9, 11-3
4) Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 4-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-9

3) Samuel Murray & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 6) Santiago Borja & Suszel Pairo (Bolivia), 8-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-4
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 7) Martin Carchi & Maria Angela Villacreses (Ecuador), 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9

Consolation Competition

Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Yasutaka Mizuno & Maiko Sato (Japan) - BYE
4) Cristina Amaya & Joseph Limonciello (Italy) d. 5) Set Cubillos & Valeria Salas (Colombia), default

3) Elaine Murphy & Mark Murphy (Ireland) - BYE
2) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera (Chile) - BYE

Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Yasutaka Mizuno & Maiko Sato (Japan) d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Joseph Limonciello (Italy), default
2) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera (Chile) d. 3) Elaine Murphy & Mark Murphy (Ireland), 11-7, 11-6, 11-4

Final - Thursday

1) Yasutaka Mizuno & Maiko Sato (Japan) v. 2) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera (Chile) - 10:30 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2026 Central American & Caribbean Games - Team Results

The team events concluded the racquetball competition at the 2026 Central American & Caribbean Games (CACGs) on Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Once again, Mexico won both the Men’s and Women’s Team events, as they have in every CACG since 1990. In the Men’s Team competition, Mexico beat Costa Rica in the final in two straight matches, while the Women’s Team competition required three matches to determine the winner with Mexico defeating Guatemala, two matches to one.

The team competitions are a best of three matches: two singles and a doubles match. The order of the matches varies across a draw, but the final is always the singles matches and then the doubles match, if necessary.

In the women’s final, Mexican Montserrat Mejia beat Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7, first, and then Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez defeated Mexico’s Alexandra Herrera, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9, which was a rematch of the Women’s Singles final that Herrera won.

The tie-breaking third match was also a rematch, as Mexico won gold over Guatemala in the Women’s Doubles final, and so it was again as Herrera and Mejia beat Martinez and Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9.

In men’s play, Mexican Rodrigo Montoya led off against Costa Rican Gabriel Garcia, winning 11-6, 12-10, 11-7, and Montoya’s team-mate Eduardo Portillo needed five games to fend off Andrés Acuña, 11-2, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6, and close out the final.

The semi-final and quarterfinal matches were all won two straight with one exception. In the men’s quarterfinals, Cuba upset the home country of Dominican Republic in three matches. In the first match, Maykel Moyet of Cuba eked out a win against Dominican Ramon De Leon, 10-12, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8, 15-13. Luis Perez of the Dominican won the second match in three straight games, defeating Yandy Espinosa, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7, to force a deciding doubles match.

Espinosa and Moyet won a close four game match against Perez and Junior Rodriguez, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, to win the quarterfinal for Cuba, and get on the podium by making the semi-finals.

Central American & Caribbean Games History

With three silver medals at this year’s Central American and Caribbean Games, Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez is now has 13 CACG medals, which is the 2nd most racquetball medals in Central American and Caribbean Games history behind only Dominican Claudine Garcia’s 14. However, she has yet to win gold at the games, which Garcia did once in Women’s Singles in 1993.

Martinez’s 13 medals is just ahead of Mexican greats Paola Longoria, Javier Moreno and Alvaro Beltran, but all of Longoria’s and Moreno’s 12 medals were gold, as were 10 of Beltran’s. Also, Costa Rican Andrés Acuña has tied those Mexicans on 12, after he won four medals at this games, including his first gold CACG medal.

The Central American & Caribbean Games are part of the quadrennial of international games that lead up to the Summer Olympic Games. The next level of games in the Americas is the Pan American Games, which will be played next year in Lima, Peru in July and August, and racquetball will be included in those games.

XXV Central American & Caribbean Games
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - July 25 - August 1, 2026

Women’s Team - Final

Mexico d. Guatemala, 2-1

Match 1: Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-5, 11-7
Match 2: Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 12-10, 11-7, 11-9

Match 3: Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-4, 11-6, 11-9

Women’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Dominican Republic, 2-0
Guatemala d. Costa Rica, 2-0

Women’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE
Dominican Republic d. Venezuela, 2-0

Costa Rica d. Cuba, 2-0
Guatemala - BYE

Men’s Team - Final

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-6, 12-10, 11-7
Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-2, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6

Men’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Guatemala, 2-0
Costa Rica d. Cuba, 2-0

Men’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE
Guatemala d. Honduras, 2-0

Cuba d. Dominican Republic, 2-1
Costa Rica d. Venezuela, 2-0

Follow the bouncing ball….

2026 Central American & Caribbean Games - Individual Results

The 2026 Central American & Caribbean Games (CACGs) began a week ago in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the racquetball competition started last Saturday. Six countries are competing: Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, as well as the host Dominican Republic. The team competition is still in process, but the five individual competitions - men’s and women’s singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles - have concluded.

Mexico won four of the five individual events with Costa Rica preventing a Mexican sweep by winning Mixed Doubles.

Alexandra Herrera was a double gold medalist, as she won gold in Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with Montserrat Mejia. Herrera defeated Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez in the singles final, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9. It was Martinez’s 3rd silver medal in singles at the CACGs. In doubles, Herrera and Mejia defeated Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the final, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6, which was a repeat of the 2023 final. Thus, this is the 2nd consecutive title for Herrera and Mejia, and it’s the 4th consecutive silver medal for Martinez and Rodriguez.

In men’s play, Mexican Rodrigo Montoya beat team-mate Eduardo Portillo in singles, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6, which was a reversal of the 2023 CACGs final, when Portillo defeated Montoya. Portillo and Andree Parrilla won doubles by beating Guatemalans Christian Aldana and Juan Salvatierra in the final, 11-1, 12-10, 11-8. Mexico has won every men’s doubles title at the CACGs going back to 1990.

Montoya had a chance at a second gold medal, as he and Jessica Parrilla were in the Mixed Doubles final, but they lost to Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Larissa Faeth, 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9. This is just the second time Mixed Doubles has been part of the CACGs, and Mexico were the defending champions.

Other matches of note. Costa Rican teen-ager Larissa Faeth defeated Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7, in the quarterfinals of Women’s Singles, which is probably the largest upset of the tournament. Also, Guatemalans Christian Aldana and Juan Salvatierra coming back from 2-1 down to defeat the Costa Rican brothers Andrés and Sergio Acuña, 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, in the Men’s Doubles semi-final was another significant upset.

Racquetball was first included in the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1990. Since then, Mexico has won gold in singles at all but two games: 1993 and 1998. Fabian Balmori of Venezuela won Men’s Singles in both those years, while the Women’s Singles titles went to Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic in 1993 and Anna Maldonado of Puerto Rico in 1998. Mexico has won gold in Men’s and Women’s Doubles at every Central American and Caribbean Games.

XXV Central American & Caribbean Games
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - July 25 - August 1, 2026

Women’s Singles - Final

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-6, 12-10, 11-9

Semi-finals

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 12-10, 11-7, 11-2

Quarterfinals

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-5, 11-1
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Mariana Tobon Gordon (Venezuela), 7-11, 11-7, 11-0, 11-3

Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) d. Montserrat Mejia (Mexico), 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Andrea Reyes Perez (Guatemala), 12-10, 11-7, 11-2

Women’s Doubles - Final

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-8, 11-4, 11-6

Semi-finals

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-2, 11-3, 11-2
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Maria Cespedes & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 13-11, 11-2

Men’s Singles - Final

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), 11-4, 11-4, 11-6

Semi-finals

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Ramon de Leon (Dominican Republic), 8-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8

Quarterfinals

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6
Ramon de Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 17-15, 11-9, 11-2

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-2, 11-8, 11-4
Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Hector Sierra Mansilla (Guatemala), 11-4, 11-4, 13-11

Men’s Doubles - Final

Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Christian Aldana & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-1, 12-10, 11-8

Semi-finals

Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Christian Aldana & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Andrés Acuña & Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5

Mixed Doubles - Final

Andrés Acuña & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Montoya & Jessica Parrilla (Mexico), 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9

Semi-finals

Andrés Acuña & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Ana Cardentey & Maykel Moyet Suarez (Cuba), 14-12, 12-10, 11-2
Rodrigo Montoya & Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) d. Christian Aldana & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….