Less than a month to go until Europe's best players will compete in the 14th European Championships in Brembate, Italy. It will be the first time ever that the Europeans will be held in Italy and there are strong hopes that this event pushes the local efforts of promoting Racquetball and that there will be major sponsor and media interest also.

The latest newsletter of the European Racquetball Federation has just been published. Results from the last tournaments of the 2006/2007 season as well as some additional information on the upcoming European Championships in Italy are included the the 4th edition of "Racquetball Europe".

One World Champonship has just recently been concluded in Hamburg, Germany and the next  event is not that far away anymore: The IRF World Senior Racquetball Championships 2007 will be held once again in Albuquerque, NM, USA on August 28 - September 1.  Senior players from all over the world will compete in singles and age divisions from 35 to 85 years to crown the World Champions 2007.

The 2007 34th USA Racquetball Junior Olympic Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports wrapped up Sunday at the Arizona State University, Student Recreation Center in Tempe, Arizona. Jose Rojas and Michelle Key grabbed top honors in the 18-under singles divsion as over 250 kids competed for one year appointments to the U.S. Junior National Racquetball Team.

While the summer is almost around the corner, Racquetball goes outside: The 2007 World Outdoor Racquetball (WOR) - Ektelon Championships will be held in the Marina Community Park - Huntington Beach, CA USA on July 12-15, 2007. Online entries must be made by  Tuesday 7/3/2007 by 6:00 PM.

The IRF Rankings have been updated. Check out the new senior doubles ranking for men and women after the 2007 World Senior Doubles Championships in Hamburg, Germany. Many new World Champions were crowned and new No.1 spots have been deserved at the World Racquetball Rankings.

Busy times for former pro John Ellis. As Director for Latin America and Canada, he recently travelled to Guatemala and Costa Rica to promote Racquetball and his employer Ektelon. "The Latin American market is growing in nearly every country", he says. No wonder that he will travel to Bolivia next month as well...

The 2007 34th Junior Olympic Racquetball Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports begins June 20 and runs through June 24. This event is a U.S. Junior National Team Qualifier. The event is being held at the Arizona State University Student Recreation Center in Tempe, AZ. Links to drawsheets can be found on-line, click here. View the matches live for free at www.racquetballonline.tv

62 young athletes competed in Ecuador's 2nd Junior Selective to identify those players that may compete in the South American Championships that will also be held in Ecuador and the World Junior Championships in Bolivia this year. With the Girls U14 winner Veronica Sotomayor and U18 champion José Daniel Alvarez Ecuador may have good chances for gold medals.

There is an unusual team rankings after the successful IRF World Senior Doubles in Hamburg, Germany as the host country used it's home court advantage to also top the overall team standings of this event. Team USA placed second while the team from Guatemala finished third.

It was just a business trip for Ireland's Pat Keane when he went to Romania a few weeks. However, he seemed to be on a mission to bring the sport to that country as he brought racquets and balls and had young kids hitting the ball against a wall outside. So the first introduction of (outdoor) racquetball has been made to Romania. Maybe some courts in the future?

A Friendship tournament last weekend in Seoul between players from Korea and Japan was held at the Kolon Sporex in Seoul Korea. A dinner after the competition completed a great weekend for players and officials. Special thanks to the Seoul Racquetball Federation for organizing this event. 

A total of 170 players competed in the Japan Open 2007 on April 21-22, 28-29, and May 3-6 at Sanpia Tama Tokyo and Gold's Gym Yokohama. In the Men's Open division, Hirotake Usami defeated Takaaki Hirose to win his third Japan Open title while Toshiko Sakamoto defeated Maiko Sato to win her 4th consecutive Japan Ladies Open title.

The 2007 World Senior Doubles Championships have been successfully concluded last weekend. Players from 9 countries were represented at this IRF competition and many new World Champions were crowned at the Closing Banquet. Check out all draws and results at the WSD 2007 event website.

Less than a week to go until the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd IRF World Senior Doubles Championships 2007 in Hamburg, Germany. Players from 9 countries around the world have entered this important IRF event which will be held for the second time only. World Champions in age divisions between 35 and 85 for men and women will be crowned during the 4-day-competition in Germany's second largest city.

The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) just released the 2007/2008 Tour Schedule with a total of 15 events in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Download your version of the WPRO Event Schedule here and make sure you are there when the ladies are playing for the big bucks.

The 27-year-old Saskatoon native Kris Odegard capitalized on home-court advantage to win his first national men's singles title on Saturday at the Regina Court and Fitness Club. With 11-15, 15-8, 12-10 he won against defending champion Mike Green of Burlington. In the women's final on Saturday, Christie Van Hees of Calgary successfully defended her championship with a 15-5, 15-5 win over Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg.

Mitch Williams and Rhonda Rajsich win the Gold Medal in the US Team qualifying division at the Ektelon USA Racquetball National Singles Racquetball Championships in Houston, TX. "I am in complete awe, "said Williams. "I wanted to have a breakthrough performance and this is the perfect tournament to do it at." Mitch defeated Shane Vanderson, 15-6, 15-12. Rhonda had a personal motivation for winning this year. "My grandfather passed away last week, so I dedicate this to him and my family," said Rajsich. Rhonda defeated Cheryl Gudinas, 15-11, 15-8.

Just a few days until the entry deadline for the 2nd IRF World Senior Doubles Championships in Hamburg, Germany. The excitement for this event in Germany has increased, no wonder that Hamburg's Secretary of Education and Sports took over the patronage of this event. World Champions in age divisions from 35 to 85+ will be crowned during that week.

The ERF has opened a website where entries for the European Championships in Brembate, Italy from 28th July - 4th August can be viewed. Click on the link below to gain access. The Nation Team Competitions start on the July 29 and the individual competitions in Open Singles, Open Doubles, Junior and Overage Singles & Doubles will begin on August 2.

A fair in Bergamo, Italy was the perfect chance for Racquetball Italia to showcase racquetball and to introduce young kids to the game. "We were successful", said Matteo Urbani, Vice President of Racquetball Italia, "next year we teach the sport in schools. Also summer camps are planned.

Truly international in Seoul, Korea: The 3rd Seoul KyungJae Newspaper Open will be held on June 22-24 at the YMCA in Seoul, Korea and players from Korea, Japan, USA and Mexico are competing in this event. Organized by the Korean Racquetball Federation (KRF), this Championship also offers cash prizes and many other exciting things.

The US National Singles Championships will celebrate its 40th annual playing next week, and the USA Racquetball website will host a special page of updates throughout the event. Held at the Downtown YMCA in Houston, Texas, the tournament offers singles title playoffs in dozens of age, skill and combined age-skill divisions.

167 players competed in 22 divisions of both singles and doubles at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C at the 2007 Canadian Junior National Championships. And Denise Haynes was one of them. She defended her Girls 18 and under title. She beat Christine Richardson of Regina, 15-6, 15-6.

Guadalajara will be the host of the 2007 Mexican Masters Championships on June 28 - July 1. The official entry form/invitation was recently published by the Mexican Racquetball Federation. Senior players from all over the country are expected to compete in this event.

Things are moving forward in Catalonia (Spain), with a new website just finished and a tournament anounced for Novemer 1-4 this year in Barcelona. This tournament will be the first international tournament in Barcelona ever and players from all over Europe will be invited to come and play this competition.

Things are moving forward with the 2007 Junior Worlds in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The city's mayor met with the organizing committee and assured his full support for this important event. Also other autorities of the city are fully supportive. "I have no doubt that this Junior Worlds will be a great success", says FEBORA President Roberto Aracena.

What a nice comeback for Liam Hughes who actually left the sport 2 years ago. Becoming a junior coach brought him back on the court and also to his first Irish Open victory last weekend in Arklow. He defeated Tristan Hickey in the final in two games. Elma Gibny defended her title against her sister Ailish.

A successful first Ecuadorian Junior Selective was held in the city of Cuenca with 58 athletes in several divisions in attendance.  This event is the first of three tournaments that will classify the players who will attend the next South American Championships (IV Campeonato Sudamericano de Racquetball) in Cuenca, Ecuador and the IRF World Junior in Bolivia.

The latest version of IRF NEWS has just been released and is available for download. Inside, please find some interesting information about Racquetball's spot within international sports, as well as results from the 2007 PanAm Championships and many other information about whats going on with Racquetball around the globe.

Quite a surprise at the 2007 Turkey Racquetball Open in Istanbul when the nation's original No. 1 player Ayten Kececi (pictured) only place second in the Ladies Singles division.

2007 Ladies Singles became Filiz Limon. In the Mens Singles draw, Metin Oz defeated Orhan Surek in the final.

The 'Campeonato Sudamericano de Racquetball' will be held in Cuenca, Ecuador this year. The Southamerican Racquetball Confederation has just recently sent out invitations to all members in the region to compete in the 4th edition of these championships which is scheduled for August 30th - September 2nd.

Congratulations to Canada's Usher Barnoff who recieved a special award on March 26th at the Calgary Booster Club 54th Sportsman of the year Dinner. "Usher Barnoff is a dedicated individual who has been committed to the growth of the sport of racquetball, and the continuity of fair play and positive ideals, for the past 25 years." No surprise that he was now recognized for his service to the sport of racquetball provincially, nationally and internationally.

Last week, the IRF headquarters moved to another office building. Still located in Colorado Springs, USA but now in the Copper Building, as part of the El Pomar Foundation where up to 8 sports corporations are also located in this office complex. New address:
1631 Mesa Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Phone: +1-719-477-6934

The IRF's World Senior Doubles Championships 2007 in Hamburg, Germany are only a few weeks away and preperations are currently being made to host all international players with fine German hospitality in the country's second largest city. The 'WSD' (World Senior Doubles) will be held June 6-9 with the entry deadline being May 28th.

The International Racquetball Federation has granted the 19th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships to Bolivia. The event will be held December 14th to 20th in Cochabamba, the city that has also hosted the 1998 IRF Adult World Championships with major success. It will be the first time that the IRF Junior Worlds will be held in South America.

There were unexpected results in both the Mens and Women Singles at 17th Castlebar Open. In the Mens Singles, Adam Neary (Arklow) won his first Open Singles event when he defeated Noel O`Callaghan (Kilkenny)in a match which ended controversially. Majella Haverty (Castlebar) won the Womens Singles defeating Ailish Gibney (Moylagh) in the final.

If you are looking for what is going on in Europe: The 3rd Edition of the ERF Newsletter is now online. You can download it via the link below and as usual it contains all the news about Racquetball in Europe. Tournament results and reports as well as the latest news on this' years European Championships is included.

Another tournament in Istanbul, Turkey. Combined with a Squash event, a Racquetball competition will be offered as well. The whole event started on April 10th already and will continue until April 25th. Contact the Turkey Racquetball Association for more.

Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) and Rhonda Rajsich (USA) are the Single Champions of the 20th Pan American Championships that were held in Santiago de Chile last week. Rajsich also won the Ladies Doubles competition together with Janel Tisinger, while Team Canada also celebrated a success by winning the Mens Doubles title (Francios Vien/Vincent Gagnon).

A tournament that has been only organized for him was also a successful tournament for Peter de Jong from the Netherlands. The former Dutch National team member won the Istanbul Hillside tournament. Another major event is planned for this year also, the first Turkey Open will possibly held this summer, also in Istanbul.

While the Pan American Championships are currently underway in Santiago, Chile, racquetballonline.tv offers special daily reports and updates, with interviews conducted by Chile's No. 1 Angela Grisar every day. Make sure to visit the website, lock in for free and click on the IRF menu button to see some real excitement.

Great honor for Bolivia's National Team: Before the team headed to Santiago de Chile for the Pan American Championships, a breakfast was conducted with Bolivia's President Evo Morales who approved the construction of another 8-court-facility to be built for the next Bolivarian Games.

This years' German Open saw the Comeback of Germany's legends Trevor Meyer and Joachim Loof in the Mens Singles Final. Meyer defeated Loof 15-8, 15-4 in a final that has been seen in the 90s so many times. USA's Brenda Kyzer, No. 6 on the WPRO-Tour defeated German National Champion Yvonne Kortes 15-7, 15-11 to win her first singles title in Europe.

National Champions Noel O'Callaghan and Elma Gibney again finished as winners with final victories over Triston Hickey and Susan Farrell respectfully at the Munster Open held in Tralee. However Noel was unable to win in doubles with his partner Christy Slattery (picture left): They got defeated by Triston Hickey and Adam Neary