Santo Domingo Vibrates with the Junior Racquetball World Championship
With the participation of nearly 300 athletes from 15 countries, the XXXI Junior World Racquetball Tournament was officially inaugurated this Friday in Santo Domingo. The event, which will run until December 13, has the presence of young talents from two continents.
The opening ceremony was led by Osvaldo Maggi, president of the World Racquetball Federation, and Rafael Fernández, head of the Dominican Federation. The categories in competition range from U10 to U21, including individual, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Youth athletes are the future of sports and the champions of tomorrow.
Osvaldo Maggi and Rafael Fernández
Maggi and Fernández highlighted the importance of young athletes and thanked the support of their families. Maggi highlighted his long relationship with Fernández, while the latter celebrated the return of world racquetball to Santo Domingo after a decade.
Institutional Presence and Inaugural Ceremony
The event was attended by prominent sports authorities, including Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD), Franklin de la Mota, Vice Minister of Sports, and 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. Polanco mentioned that racquetball will be part of the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, for which the facility will be modernized.
The delegations’ parade took place in front of 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, and Dominican Republic, which closed the parade as the host. The ceremony included the performance of the Dominican national anthem, a religious invocation, and an artistic exhibition.
Dominican Representation
Dominican Republic participates with 14 athletes and 12 coaches. The Dominican 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 and Jadelin de León.
The competitions started on Saturday and will run until December 13, promising a high competitive level and an environment of international integration.
