Santo Domingo: Junior Racquetball World Championship Inaugurated with 15 Nations

SANTO DOMINGO – With an impressive participation of nearly 300 athletes representing 15 countries from two continents, the XXXI Junior World Racquetball Tournament was officially inaugurated this Friday. The event was attended by key figures in racquetball, including Osvaldo Maggi, president of the World Racquetball Federation, and Rafael Fernández, head of the Dominican Federation.

A Meeting of Future Stars

The tournament, which will run until Saturday, December 13, is a showcase for the promises of this sport. The categories range from U10 to U21, with individual, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles competitions. Youth athletes are the future of sport and the champions of tomorrow. Both Maggi and Fernández highlighted the importance of young athletes, also thanking the support of the families and highlighting the atmosphere of camaraderie that prevails in the event. Maggi, who has a long relationship with Fernández, expressed her joy at being back in the Dominican Republic. Fernández, for his part, celebrated the return of world racquetball to Santo Domingo, a decade after the last edition held in the country, an interval largely influenced by the pandemic.

Institutional Support

The inaugural event was attended by prominent sports authorities.

• Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD)
• Franklin de la Mota, Vice Minister of Sports
• Tomás Polanco, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games

De la Mota, on behalf of President Luis Abinader and Minister of Sports Kelvin Cruz, welcomed the athletes and their companions. Polanco highlighted that racquetball will be an integral part of the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, for which the facility will be modernized.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony was held in the renovated racquetball facility of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. The delegations paraded in alphabetical order:

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• South Korea
• Chinese Taipei
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Ecuador
• United States
• Mexico
• Guatemala
• Dominican Republic

Colombia joined later due to delays in its arrival. The ceremony included:

• Interpretation of the Dominican national anthem by El Corito Chichigua, from the Las Caobas sector
• Religious invocation by Father Santiago Rodríguez Palancas
• Artistic exhibition by the EDA Fancer Academy

Dominican Participation

Dominican Republic competes with a delegation of 14 athletes, supported by a technical team of 12 coaches.

The athletes are:

• Deikel de León
• Emerson Mora
• Mehibel García
• Nashla Estévez
• Alexander Branagan
• Luz Moreta
• Esleiker Gómez
• Alejandro Gómez
• Gabriel Cuello
• Reynell de León
• Británico Ramírez
• Lía de León
• Jadelin de León

Ongoing Competitions

The matches began on Saturday at 9:00 in the morning and will run until 9:00 at night daily. The event promises a high competitive level and an environment of international integration. The XXXI Junior Racquetball World Championship is shaping up to be a memorable edition, solidifying Santo Domingo as a key destination for world-class sporting events.