Racquetball at the 1981 World Games

The racquetball events of World Games I were held on August 1–2, 1981, at the Decathlon Club in Santa Clara, California, in the United States. These were the first World Games, an international quadrennial multi-sport event, and were hosted by the city of Santa Clara. This racquetball competition also served as the first Racquetball World Championships tournament in the sport of racquetball. In addition to the five nations mentioned below, athletes from Japan also participated in the competition.^[1]

Medalists

Sources:^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Event	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Men
Single	Ed Andrews (USA)	Mark Martino (USA)	Martin Padilla (MEX)
Double	Mark Malowitz Jeff Kwartler (USA)	Raul Canales Federico Alvarez (MEX)	Tony Luykx Frits Groenendijk (NED)
Women
Single	Cindy Baxter (USA)	Barbara Faulkenberry (USA)	Betsy Massie (USA)
Double	Mary Ann Cluess Karen Borga (USA)	Miriam Wielheesen Dineke Kool (NED)	Susan Martinez Armida Suarez (MEX)

Details

Men

Singles

Finals – Ed Andrews, USA, d. Mark Martino, USA, 21-19, 21-5; Martin Padilla, Mexico, d. Larry Fox, USA, 21-6, 18-21, 15-14.

Gold, Andrews. Silver, Martino. Bronze, Padilla.

Double

Finals – Mark Malowitz–Jeff Kwartler, USA, d. Raul Canales–Federico Alvarez, Mexico, 21-7, 18-21, 15-1; Tony Luyckx–Frits Groenendyk, Netherlands, d. William Wenzel–Jorg Harnold, West Germany, 21-6, 21-19.

Gold, Malowitz–Kwartler. Silver, Canales–Alvarez. Bronze, Luyckx–Groenendyk.

Men's Teams:

USA Team Members: Ed Andrews (#1 Singles), Larry Fox (#2 Singles), Mark Martino (#3 Singles), Jeff Kwartler/Mark Malowitz (Doubles), Scott Schafer (Alternate Singles 1), Jack Newman (Alternate Singles 2)

Women

Single

Finals – Cindy Baxter, USA, d. Barbara Faulkenberry, USA, 21-6, 18-21, 15-2; Betsy Massie, USA, d. Mirjam Wielhassen, Netherlands, 21-10, 21-2.

Gold, Baxter. Silver, Faulkenberry. Bronze, Massie.

Double

Finals – Karen Borga–Mary Ann Cluess, USA, d. Mirjam Wielhassen–Dineke Kool, Netherlands, 21-13, 21-9; Susan Martinez–Armida Suarez, Mexico, d. Catherine Donegan–Mavis O'Toole, Ireland, 21-5, 21-1.

Gold, Borga–Cluess. Silver, Wielhassen–Kool. Bronze, Martinez–Suarez.

References

1. George, Carol (October 1985). "The 1985 World Games". National Racquetball. 14 (10): 18.
2. "World Games Results International, at Santa Clara, Calif. Aug., 2". United Press International. Aug 2, 1981.
3. "Santa Clara, USA 1981 Calendar & Results". International World Games Association. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
4. "Results of the World Games". International World Games Association. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
5. "World Games". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. August 3, 1981. p. 6D.
6. "Racquetball's International debut is set". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. July 24, 1981. p. 7E.
7. Finch, Peter (August 3, 1981). "Perfect game by Arendsen closes Games". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. p. 3D.