2025 World Games - Wednesday results

The 2025 World Games racquetball competition began Wednesday in Chengdu, China, and there weren’t any surprises, although one came close. Dominican Ramon De Leon had a 2-0 lead on Canadian Coby Iwaasa, and a 5-2 lead in the 3rd game. But Iwaasa managed to come back and tie the game at 6-6, and then went ahead 9-6, holding on to win 11-9.

After that the wheels fell off the De Leon bus, so Iwaasa prevailed, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2. His win sets up a tasty quarterfinal with Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, who was a straight game winner over German Marcel Lunsmann, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5.

Edwin Galicia of Guatemala came back from a game down to defeat Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3, in the only other Round of 16 men’s match to go more than three games. Galicia’s win sets up a quarterfinal with top seed Jake Bredenbeck of the USA, who beat Han-Yang Huang of Chinese Taipei, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3.

The pick of the quarterfinals could be Argentine Diego Garcia versus Costa Rican Andrés Acuña, the defending World Games gold medalist, who is somehow only seeded 5th. In the 16s, Garcia defeated Jonathan O'Keeney of Ireland, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3, while Acuña beat Gunhee Lee of South Korea, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2.

There was an upset on the women’s side, as youthful exuberance in Costa Rica’s Larissa Faeth defeated veteran experience in Italy’s Cristina Amaya, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6. She’ll play 2nd seed Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala in the quarterfinals, as Martinez - the silver medalist from Birmingham - saw off veteran Angela Grisar of Germany, 11-5, 11-0, 11-4.

Top seed and defending World Games gold medalist Paola Longoria of Mexico comfortably beat Yuan Wang of Chinese Taipei, 11-1, 11-2, 11-2, but it shouldn’t be so comfortable in the quarters, as she’ll play Canadian Frédérique Lambert, who defeated South Korea’s Sumin Lee in three games, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10.

The 4/5 quarterfinal is interesting, as it’s young American Naomi Ros versus almost as young Bolivian Angélica Barrios. Ros needed four games to see off Ecuador’s Maria Angela Villacreses, 11-5, 11-2, 10-12, 11-1. She did have a match point in game three, but Villacreses fought it off and extended the match.

For her part, Barrios trailed Ireland’s Aisling Hickey for all of game one until she tied it at 9-9. Barrios got the last two points to win that game, and then took the next two as well, winning the match, 11-9, 11-2, 11-6.

Thursday matches

The schedule has Mixed Doubles starting on Thursday with the Round of 16 from 10 to 1. Then the singles quarterfinals will begin at 4 and go to 7. You can watch some of the matches live from China via The World Games Live website. They were doing one match at each start time, and seemed to alternate between a women’s and men’s match on Wednesday.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA) d. 16) Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei), 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) d. 9) Jose Daniel UGALDE (Ecuador), 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3

5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica) d. 12) Gunhee LEE (South Korea), 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 13) Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland), 11-6, 11-2, 11-3

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) d. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN (Germany), 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
6) Coby IWAASA (Canada) d. 11) Ramon DE LEON (Dominican Republic), 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2

10) Michimune KONO (Japan) d. 7) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN (India), 11-4, 11-1, 11-4
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) d. 15) Carlo PAPINI (Italy), 11-1, 11-4, 11-3

Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA) v. 8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) - 4 PM
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica) - 5 PM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) v. 6) Coby IWAASA (Canada) - 7 PM
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 10) Michimune KONO (Japan) - 6 PM

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) d. 16) Yuan WANG (Chinese Taipei), 11-1, 11-2, 11-2
8) Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) d. Sumin LEE (South Korea), 11-9, 11-1, 12-10

5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) d. 12) Aisling HICKEY (Ireland), 11-9, 11-2, 11-6
4) Naomi ROS (USA) d. Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador), 11-5, 11-2, 10-12, 11-1

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) d. 14) Shilpa DALVI (India), 11-2, 11-1, 11-3
6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) d. 11) Harumi KAJINO (Japan), 11-4, 11-3, 11-2

10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) d. 7) Cristina AMAYA (Italy), 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) d. 15) Angela GRISAR (Germany), 11-5, 11-0, 11-4

Women’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 8) Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) - 5 PM
4) Naomi ROS (USA) v. 5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) - 4 PM

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) v. 6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) - 6 PM
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) v. 10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 7 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 16) Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei) - 10 AM
8) Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) v. 12) Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland) - 11 AM
4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 13) Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA (Italy) - 11 AM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR (Germany) - Noon
6) Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE (South Korea) v. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - Noon

7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 10) Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador) - 1 PM
2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 15) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI (India) - 1 PM

Note: All times above are Chengdu times. 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games Draws

The 2025 World Games racquetball competition begins Wednesday in Chengdu, China, and we have a rundown of the draws for you below. There are three events: Men’s and Women’s Singles as well as Mixed Doubles. The players in the singles draws will team up to play in the mixed doubles event.

In Men’s Singles, Jake Bredenbeck of the USA is the top seed, and probably a good bet to make the final, although he may have to play defending World Games gold medalist Andrés Acuña of Costa Rica in the semi-finals. But Acuña will likely face a trickier match in the quarterfinals in Diego Garcia of Argentina than Bredenbeck will against either Edwin Galicia of Guatemala or Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador.

Eduardo Portillo of Mexico is the 2nd seed, and we like him to reach the semi-finals, but then he’ll probably play 3rd seed Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia, which should be a great match that could go either way. However, to make that happen Moscoso will likely need to defeat Canadian Coby Iwaasa in the quarterfinals, and that won’t be an easy match.

On the women’s side, Mexican Paola Longoria has a chance to win a 4th consecutive World Games gold medal. Given the draw, where she is seeded #1, you’d give her a good chance to get that 4th gold medal, as looks like she’ll make the final.

Longoria might face Canadian Frédérique Lambert in the quarterfinals, and that could be tricky. Also, she’ll probably play Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, which also could be challenging to Longoria.

Nonetheless, you’d fancy her to get to the final, where she’ll likely face either Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas or Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez. If it’s Martinez, that will be a repeat of the final from Birmingham, Alabama in 2022.

In Mixed Doubles, there will be some interesting quarterfinal matches. The most intriguing could be Mexicans Longoria and Portillo versus Argentines Vargas and Garcia. Only one of those teams is making the podium, and the winner will likely play Bolivians Barrios and Moscoso in the semi-finals.

On the other side of the draw, Guatemalans Galicia and Martinez will likely face off in the quarters with Canadians Iwaasa and Lambert with the winner to face Americans Bredenbeck and Ros in the semis. However, the Americans will need to defeat either Costa Ricans Acuña and Faeth or Dominicans De Leon and Cespedes in the quarters, and that could be a tricky match.

Where to watch

All in all, there should be great racquetball matches to be seen. But will we be able to see them if we’re not in Chengdu? It seems that matches will be streamed live from China via The World Games Live website with matches to begin at 9 PM CDT (corresponding to 10 AM in Chengdu). So, let’s check that out and see how it goes.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA) v. 16) Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei) - 10 AM
8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 9) Jose Daniel UGALDE (Ecuador) - 11 AM

5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica) v. 12) Gunhee LEE (South Korea) - Noon
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 13) Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland) - 5 PM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) v. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN (Germany) - 4 PM
6) Coby IWAASA (Canada) v. 11) Ramon DE LEON (Dominican Republic) - 6 PM

7) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN (India) v. 10) Michimune KONO (Japan) - 1 PM
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 15) Carlo PAPINI (Italy) - 7 PM

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 16) Yuan WANG (Chinese Taipei) - 11 AM
8) Frederique LAMBERT (Canada) v. Sumin LEE (South Korea) - 10 AM

5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 12) Aisling HICKEY (Ireland) - Noon
4) Naomi ROS (USA) v. Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador) - 1 PM

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) v. 14) Shilpa DALVI (India) - 4 PM
6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - 7 PM

7) Cristina AMAYA (Italy) v. 10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 5 PM
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) v. 15) Angela GRISAR (Germany) - 6 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 16) Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei) - 10 AM
8) Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

5) Coby IWAASA & Frederique LAMBERT (Canada) v. 12) Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland) - 11 AM
4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 13) Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA (Italy) - 11 AM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR (Germany) - Noon
6) Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE (South Korea) v. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - Noon

7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 10) Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador) - 1 PM
2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 15) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI (India) - 1 PM

Note: All times above are Chengu times. Noon in Chengdu is midnight in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games Preview

Later this week the 2025 World Games will begin in Chengdu, China, but the racquetball part of the games will begin next week on August 13. This will be the 7th time racquetball has been included in the World Games program. Racquetball was part of the first World Games in 1981, which is now also recognized as the first Racquetball World Championships.

New this year is a mixed doubles competition. Racquetball at the World Games has generally been a singles only competition with a maximum of two players from each qualifying country.

The players qualified for Chengdu based on results from the 2025 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. Previously, qualifying went to the specific player who competed at Worlds, but this time the qualifying went to the country, so if Sally from the USA qualified from her World Championship performance, but was injured and couldn’t participate in the World Games, the USA could send a different player in her place. Previously, Sally’s absence would have meant the next player from the order of qualifying players would be selected to play at the World Games, regardless of what country that player was from.

With this change there is only one player per country in the men’s and women’s singles competitions, so as to maximize the number of participating countries. Those players will be the mixed doubles teams for their respective countries.

Thus, there will be 16 countries competing in Chengdu. Qualifying spots were given to four Asian countries, four European countries and eight countries from the Americas. One of the Asian spots was not taken (that of the host nation, China), so Ecuador has taken its place.

Who’s there?

Both the defending World Games gold medalists from the 2022 Games in Birmingham, Alabama are in Chengdu. Thus, Andrés Acuña of Costa Rica and Paola Longoria of Mexico will have a chance to defend their gold medals from three years ago (note: originally, the Birmingham games were to be held in 2021, but were postponed to 2022 due to the COVID pandemic).

The women’s silver and bronze medalists from Birmingham - Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala and Angélica Barrios of Bolivia, respectively - will also be in Chengdu, but neither of the other men’s medalists - Mexicans Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla - will be. Instead, Eduardo Portillo will be representing Mexico in China.

Along with Acuña and Portillo, the other favourites on the men’s side will be Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso and American Jake Bredenbeck with Canadian Coby Iwaasa and Argentina’s Diego Garcia as dark horses.

On the women’s side, Longoria, Martinez and Barrios are all players to watch, as is Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas. Here the dark horses are Canadian Frédérique Lambert and American Naomi Ros. Notably, Angela Grisar - a World Games bronze medalist in 2009 - is in the field representing Germany. We’re not sure how she’s doing that, but we’re also not sure how Cristina Amaya is representing Italy either.

Streaming matches. We hope that some of the matches will be streamed live from China, but this a large games, so the rights to the broadcasts have been bought by someone. Whether that someone will be streaming racquetball is uncertain. Thus, we’re not sure how available streaming will be.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Field of racquetball players

Argentina - Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA
Bolivia - Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS
Canada - Coby IWAASA & Frederique LAMBERT
Costa Rica - Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH
Dominican Republic - Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES
Ecuador - Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES
Germany - Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR
Guatemala - Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA
India - Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI
Ireland - Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY
Italy - Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA
Japan - Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO
South Korea - Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE
Mexico - Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO
Chinese Taipei - Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG
USA - Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS

Follow the bouncing ball…..