At the Parque Independencia ISEF No. 11 in Rosario, racquetball competition at the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games begins on September 21, bringing together many of the world’s top athletes in the sport.
The finals will take place on Thursday, September 24, and Saturday, September 26.
Among the standout participants are Argentina’s María José Vargas, the world’s No. 1-ranked singles player, and Conrrado Moscoso from Bolivia, the world’s No. 2-ranked singles player. Both are favorites in their respective divisions, in singles as well as doubles.
They are also multiple Pan American medalists and the defending South American Games champions, having won gold in Cochabamba in 2018.
The competition will also feature experienced players such as Ecuatorians José Ugalde and Juan Francisco Cueva; Argentineans Natalia Méndez, Fernando Kurzbard, and Diego García; Chilean Carla Muñoz; and Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Jenny Daza.
There will also be a strong presence of young athletes, many of whom are regular competitors at the Junior World Championships, with some already having significant experience in senior-level events. These include Bolivians Jhonatan Flores, ranked No. 5 in the world, and Camila Rivero; Chilean Paula Mansilla; Ecuatorian María Ángela Villacreses; Peruvians David Gonzales and Kristen Hammerschmidt; and Argentina’s Lautaro Cufré, who is just 16 years old.
In total, 26 athletes will compete across seven events, which also include mixed doubles and team competitions. The team competition will award qualifying spots for the 20th Pan American Games in Lima 2027.
Osvaldo Maggi, President of the IRF—the international governing body for the sport, comparable to FIFA in soccer—is Argentinean and is overseeing the organization of the tournament.
“For years, we have been working collectively with the Argentinean Racquetball Association (AAR), the Argentinean Olympic Committee, the National Sports Secretariat, and ENARD to ensure that our flag is present on as many podiums as possible, and we are very proud of what we have achieved,” he stated.
