Iwaasa crowned a worlds champion

By Lethbridge Herald on August 29, 2024.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Local racquetball player Coby Iwaasa and partner Sam Murray were crowned men’s doubles world champions as Team Canada at the World Racquetball championships in San Antonio on Thursday.

Iwaasa and Murray knocked off the heavy favourites from Mexico, who won the world men’s doubles title the previous four years in a row in a thrilling five game match.

Canada won the first (11-5,) third (11-8) and the fifth (11-6 )and final set for the win, while Mexico won the second (11-6)and fourth  (11-4) sets respectively.

“We’ve been struggling and trying to win at the higher international levels and we’ve come close multiple times where we just were  unable to get to the end and so very glad that we finally got over that last little hurdle,” said Iwaasa.

Iwaasa thought the key to winning came from  their ability to stay confident through momentum shifts.

“So today (on Thursday), in each of the five games that we played, whoever seem to strike first and get the first few points quicker than the opponent won that game,” said Iwaasa.

Iwaasa felt himself and Murray were able to maintain a higher level of intensity.

“Sam and I really caught fire in the fifth and they couldn’t find a way to stop us,” said Iwaasa.

“I believe for us this knowledge and experience of winning will carry us forward to win more because we know what we did, we know what worked and we’ll continue adapting  (and) coming up with winning strategies as we have done to  get to this point,” said Iwaasa.

This was Iwaasa and Murray’s first time winning doubles gold at any international tournament.

They defeated Ecuador in the quarterfinals and Bolivia in the semi-finals.

The duo weren’t done as they jumped into the team events right away on Thursday evening and won their first match against Korea and will play Bolivia on Saturday.

Canada had not won the world doubles title since 2012.