XXII IRF World Championships in San Antonio – The Time is Approaching!
by Karen Grisz, Mike Grisz, and Cheryl Kirk
USA Racquetball is excited to be the host of the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) XXII World Championships. From August 23-31, as many as 100 athletes from more than 20 countries are expected to compete at the Thousand Oaks YMCA in San Antonio, Texas. This marks the first time since 1996 that the World Championships will be hosted in the United States.
The final results of the Overall Combined Team Competition in San Antonio 2024 will be the main qualifying event, by country, for The World Games (TWG) Chengdu 2025. Once qualifying countries have earned their positions to participate in TWG 2025, they will each then field a team of one male and one female athlete to represent their country in singles and in mixed doubles next summer in China.
A concurrent fundraiser event hosted by Sudsy Monchik and Leo Vasquez will be offered August 28 and 29 there at the YMCA. The Frank Hotels/KWM Gutterman Centurion Doubles Invitational is a unique fundraiser to assist USA Racquetball with event hosting expenses. Twelve centurion doubles teams will compete in a round robin format. The cost is $1,000 per team to enter. Don’t miss the opportunity to play some amazing racquetball and watch the IRF World Racquetball Championships live! For more information, visit https://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=42367.
USA Racquetball will gratefully accept donations to help cover the costs of the event. With a minimum $50 donation, you will receive the official commemorative pin of the IRF XXII World Racquetball Championships. https://donate.givedirect.org/?cid=16122&n=955778. Be sure to note in the comments that your donation is to support USA Racquetball as host country of the IRF World Championships, and please enter your mailing address to ensure your collector pin reaches you soon after the event.
The IRF World Championships event is free to watch live – we’d love to get all of you racquetball fans cheering on your favorite players in person! If you’re thinking about making your way to San Antonio and you’re one of those people who love to pitch in and help, contact Jonathan Greenberg at jonathan@usaracquetball.com. Volunteers are the brightest stars in the sky!
If you can’t get to San Antonio, the event will be streamed by the IRF and covered through social media and the Daily Blogs. We’ll make y’all feel like you’re right there with us!
P.S. Special recognition goes to Sandy Rios and her Local Organizing Committee. If you’ve ever been a tournament director, multiply that experience by 1,000 or so. Therefore, snacks and gifts for the organizing group and volunteers will be highly appropriate!