The IRF Executive Committee voted unanimously to bring the 14th IRF World Racquetball Championships 2008 to Paris, France. This will be the the second time that the World Championships will be held in Europe after the Championships in Hamburg, Germany in 1988. The event will take place in the City Form Club in Nanterre, a local district of Paris. The club also serves as site of the French Open every year.

Less than three months to go until the 2006 Junior World Championships in Tempe, AZ, USA. Download the official entry form for this major international junior competition. Entries are only accepted through National Federations, please check the IRF membership directory online for your country's contact information.

Mr. Gu-Hyun Kong (picture) has been elected as new president of the Asia Racquetball Federation (ARF). The election took place during the 2006 World Championships in Santo Domingo, Dom. Republic. Other board members are: Toshiharu Yanagi (Vice President), Sang-Soo Lee (Secretary General), Yasushi Tanahara (Treasurer), Mrs. Yuni Cobb (Liason Officer). The ARF is currently planing to host it's Asia Open in January 2007 and the Asia Championships in August 2007. Both events shall be held in Japan.

The Netherlands Racquetball Association (NRA) has scheduled it's National Championships for November 3-5 this year. The competition will be held at the Westvliet Welness & Racquet Club in The Hague. Michiel van der Holst and Mirjam van Rijn are the defending champions in the mens and ladies singles competitions.

Successful start of the 2006/07 European Tour. The 2006 Hamburg Open concluded with no surprises in the Mens and Ladies Singles finals when Martin Klippel (Germany) claimed a straight victory against Ireland's Tristan Hickey in the final with 15-4, 15-5 while Yvonne Kortes defeated Julie Skehan (Ireland) 15-6, 15-6.

Get some more instructional information from IPRO, the International Professional Racquetball Organization, the certification arm of International Racquetball. IPRO Director Gary Mazaroff just published an article by Dave Ellis, USA Racquetball's National Team Coach. Also updated is the IPRO calendar of events with certification classes offered in Mexico (October 2006) and Germany (June 2007).

Almost all top European players have confirmed their entries for the upcoming 2006 Hamburg Open in Germany, the first event of the European Tour's season 2006/7. Players from the Netherlands, Germany, USA as well as some newcomers from Italy, Spain and Turkey compete in 10 divisions in one of Europe's oldest racquetball competitions.

Following the conclusion of 18th World Seniors in Albuquerque, USA last weekend,  the official IRF World Rankings have been now updated and feature some new and some old No.1 players in the age divisions. The International Racquetball Federation World Rankings feature age rankings from 35+ to 85+ for both men and women.

Woody Clouse (USA) defended his Seniors 35+ World Singles title at the 2006 IRF World Seniors while Jean Halahan (USA) defeated 2005 World Champion Tina Hagen (USA) in the 35+ Ladies Final with 15-7, 15-6. The 18th IRF World Seniors brought over 200 players to the host city of Albuquerque, USA.

Racqetball Italia has just recently anounced the dates and general information for the 2006 Italian Championships in Brembate. Find more information on the Italian website.

Today is the final day of the 2006 World Senior Championships in Albuquerque, USA. All Finals in the 26 age divisions will be played today, beginning 9am local time. The event concludes with the famous banquet tonight.  Complete draws and results will be online shortly.

Ms. Ayten Kececi from Istanbul became the new President for Racquetball Turkey. ERF President Erik Meyer welcomed Ms. Kececi to the European community. Turkey will be represented for the first time by Ms. Kececi at the upcoming European congress in Hamburg, Germany.

Successful racquetball junior camp in Venezuela: 12 juniors were attending a camp conducted by National Team players Cesar Castro and Fabian Balmori and in preparation of the upcoming IRF Junior Worlds 2006 in Tempe, AZ, USA.

Successful 4th Interclubs Regional Tournament in Sucre, Bolivia: 135 players competed in 12 divisions for gold medals. Also competing were many young Bolivian girls and boys who will compete in the IRF Junior Worlds 2006 in Tempe, AZ, USA.

Some other very attractive international events are coming up shortly. The Rosarita Beach Hotel in Mexico (Sep 8-10) will host it's 7th Rosarito Beach Racquetball Open, celebrating the 20th birthday of the club facility this year. Another great event takes place in Cali, Colombia (Sep 29-Oct 1), hosting the XIII Torneo Internacional de Racquetball.

Ralf Lysakowski from Austria is the defending champion of the upcoming 23rd Hamburg Open 2006 in Germany, the first event of the European Tour 2006-2007. While almost all top German players have already signed in, players from all over Europe are also expected to compete in this event.

The starting times for the 18th IRF World Senior Championships 2006 in Albuquerque, USA are now available online. Players shall check for their name. For any questions please contact the tournament directors directly. Over 200 players are competing in 26 divisions within 5 days in different clubs of the Albuquerque vicinity.

The IRF World Congress has recently voted on several rule changes that led to an update of the Official IRF rules and regulations. All rule changes are specially marked in the new version and go into effect on September 1, 2006

A complete overview from the finals and and finishers of the recent 13th IRF World Championships 2006 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is now available online. Congratulations to all winners and finishers for a successful event.

Over 200 players have confirmed their entry for the IRF World Senior Championships 2006 in Albuquerque, USA. Matches will be played in 26 divisions within 5 days in different clubs of the Albuquerque vicinity. The Mixed Divions, which are being held for the second time only, will feature an unprecedented number of 40 teams. Daily updates from the tournament will be available online.

The 2nd IRF World Senior Doubles Championships 2007 are granted to Germany. The event will be held in Hamburg, Germany's second largest city. Age divisions from 35 to 85 for both, men and women will be offered as well as mixed doubles. More information and an entry form will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

After finishing the 13th IRF World Championships as World Singles Champions, Jack Huczek (USA) and Christie van Hees (Canada) also top the IRF world rankings as no. 1 players. Both finalists, Shane Vanderson (USA) and Angela Grisar (Chile), place second in the singles rankings.

After two years of retirement from pro racquetball former Junior World Champion Sudsy Monchik has answered the call to return to the game. Sudsy has been training hard and has made the commitment to play full time on the IRT for the coming season. “I am not coming back to just sign autographs and blow kisses. I am coming back to win tournaments", Monchik stated.

The USA Racquetball Team won the 2006 IRF World Team Championships in Santo Domingo, Dom. Republic. The US team won both finals against Team Canada with the mens winning 3-0 while the ladies lost their doubles match but were able to succeed in both singles matches.

Second half of the event - Team competition

Second half of the event - Team competition

Empty courts today in Santo Domingo. After the first half of the World Competition, players and delegates deserve a day of rest. The event continues tomorrow with the team competition for women and men.

Christie van Hees (Canada) is the new World Racquetball Champion 2006! She defeated Angela Grisar (Chile) in the Ladies Open final 15-4. 15-1. It is van Hees' second World Singles title after winning the IRF crown in 1998 at the World Championships in Bolivia. In Mens Singles, Jack Huczek (USA) defended his 2004 title against Shane Vanderson (USA) 15-10, 14-15, 11-4. It is Huczek's third singles title in a row, after 2002 (Puerto Rico) and 2004 (Korea). Doubles final results: Mens: J. Moreno/A. Beltran (MEX) – J. Huczek/R. Carson (USA) 15-8, 15-14. Ladies: A. Ruiz/L. Fenton (USA) – A. Grisar/F. Marquez (CHI) 15-6, 15-4

Ladies Singles:
Angela Grisar (CHI) - Jennifer Saunders (CAN) 15-9, 15-6
Christie van Hees (CAN) - Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 15-14, 15-13

Mens Singles:
Jack Huczek (USA) - Abraham Pena (MEX) WBF - injury
Shane Vanderson (USA) - Gilberto Mejia (MEX) 15-4, 15-13

Ladies Doubles:
Aimee Ruiz/Laura Fenton (USA) - Naomi Wakimoto/Toshiko Sakamoto (JPN) 15-2, 15-1
Angela Grisar/Fabiola Marquez (CHI) - Lori-Jane Powell/Josée Grand'Maitre (CAN) 15-13, 15-12

Mens Doubles:
Javier Moreno/Alvaro Beltran (MEX) - Jorge Hirsekorn/Cesar Castro (VEN) 15-12, 15-6
Jack Huczek/Rocky Carson (USA) - Mike Green/Brian Istace (CAN) 15-8, 15-7

The first ever live streaming from an IRF World Championship will be available for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of the individual competition. Just register free to watch and listen to Chile's Pablo Fajre's live commentary on Saturday Aug 5th, 4-8 pm local time and Sunday Aug 6th, 9-12 and 2-6 pm local time.

The 2006 IRF World Championships in Santo Domingo are underway already!! All draws are published online now at the link below.

What a great success for Team Mexico at the Central American & Caribbean Games: All gold medals in individual and team competitions went to the Mexican team. Paolo Longoria won the ladies singles while Gilberto Meija defeated Fabian Balmori (VEN) in the mens singles.

IRF Technical Director Usher Barnoff has released the official seedings for the upcoming World Championships. The event consists of two competitions, the individual and the team competition. Any questions shall be directed to the TD.

All draws and a list of the participating racquetball countries/players of the 20th Central American & Caribbean Games 2006 is now available. The games are officially being held in Cartagena, Colombia while the racquetball competition will be held in Santo Domingo, Dom. Republic.

The Asia Racquetball Federation (ARF) invited it's members for the annual meeting on August 4th, 7pm during the World Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Elections for all positions on the executive board will be held during that meeting.

Miguel Perea was only one of the many Mexican seniors who competed in the Nacional Selective Master 2006 at the Club Hacienda San Javier in Guadalajara this June. Perea, current General Secretary of the Mexican Racquetball Federation, lost his final match in the Seniors Singles 40+ division against Arturo Martin with 15-9, 15-10.

Of course, the US Racquetball Team will also be competing in the 13th IRF World Championships in Santo Domingo. The team will be: Womens - Rhonda Rajsich, Cheryl Gudinas, Aimee Ruiz and Laura Fenton. Mens - Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek & Shane Vanderson. Coaches: Dave and John Ellis.

Following the recent Annual General Meeting of the Racquetball Association of Ireland, Pat Keane has been re-elected for a second term as President of the Association. Sean Gargan of Kingscourt takes over the Vice Presidency while Gary Lynch retain the position of General Secretary

The European tournament season 2005/06 came to an end and Oliver Bertels remains No. 1 of the German singles rankings. He will also lead the German Mens National Team at the upcoming IRF World Championships this August in the Dominican Republic. Also playing for the German team are Joachim Loof and Andrea Gordon, two longtime playing German heros.

An IPRO certification has just been  completed in Ireland by Jim Winterton. "He is such an knowledgable guy and without doubt a great coach", said Irish President Pat Keane. The course was held in cinjunction with a 5 days junior coaching, also by Mr. Winterton.

A new edition of IRF NEWS, the official newsletter of the IRF has just been published and is available for download. Check out all results from the Pan American Championships, proposed rule changes, updated world rankings and other news and activities from around the world.

The recent National Bolivian Junior Championships were held in Cochabamba on June 23-28. 109 players from six regional associations competed in age groups between 9 and 19 year. team champion became the Chuquisaca Association.