Saturday, Oct 21st.- The first rounds of racquetball at the Pan American Games in Santiago began on Saturday at Centro Deportivo Las Raquetas, located at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.

On the opening day, four Chileans made their debut, both in the male and female's categories, with one win and three losses. The only local athlete who emerged victorious was Carla Muñoz, who defeated the Peruvian Michele Morissette with scores of 11-4, 12-0, 11-7.

Additionally, the victories of the two Americans who took to the court were noteworthy, as were those of three out of four Ecuadorians in matches corresponding to the round of 32.

In the male's category, the Ecuadorian Juan Francisco Cueva defeated the Chilean Jaime Mansilla by 11-8, 11-8, 11-6; the Cuban Maykel Moyet beat Juan José Salvatierra from the Independent Athletes Team by 4-1, 15-13, 11-9, 11-5; Edwin Galicia from the Independent Athletes Team defeated the Cuban Yandy Espinosa by 11-4, 11-3, 11-6; and the Colombian José Ugalde beat the Chilean Rafael Gatica by 11-9, 12-10, 12-10.

In the female's category, Merynanyelly Delgado defeated the Colombian María José Muñoz by 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 1-11, and 11-7; the Canadian Frederique Lambert beat the Chilean Paula Mansilla by 11-3, 11-2, 11-6; the Puerto Rican Erika Manilla defeated the American Kylie Larduet by 11-3, 11-3, 11-3; the Ecuadorian Verónica Sotomayor beat the Dominican María Céspedes by 11-6, 11-4, 11-1; and the American Michelle Key defeated the Cuban Samira Ferreira by 11-7, 11-0, and 11-3.

Other matches in this discipline are continuing throughout the afternoon of this Saturday, in both male and female's doubles, as part of the round of 16.

Alejandro Pérez; translated by Pía Barriga / Photosport
Photo: Fernando Campos / Santiago 2023 villa Photosport