Iwaasa medals at first World Games

By Lethbridge Herald on August 18, 2025.

Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida Coby Iwaasa and FrŽdŽrique Lambert of Canada celebrate after the Racquetball Mixed Doubles bronze medal match.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Local racquetballer Coby Iwaasa’s first World Games was a success, as him and his playing partner Frédérique Lambert won a Mixed Doubles bronze medal for Team Canada over the weekend in China.

Iwaasa and Lambert knocked off the Japan duo of Michimune Kono and Harumi Kajino by scores of  11-3, 11-7, 7-11 and 11-4 to take the bronze medal.

“Fred and I just had good communication, good gelling on the court, so we were able to trust that if I go for a shot, she’s there to cover and if she goes for the shot, I’m there to cover,” said Iwaasa.

“So, (with) it being the last game of the tournament for us, we were in the most comfortable space for us as a partnership.”

The Canadian team narrowly missed the gold medal match after dropping their semi-final match to the American team by scores of 11–9, 5–11, 11–8, 9–11, 9–11.

“It’s been up in my mind because it was so tight,” said Iwaasa, on the semi-final loss.

Iwaasa and Lambert had leads of 9-7 and 9-8 in fourth and fifth games respectively.

“We were inches away from the finish line,” said Iwaasa.

“We had that lead but  then the momentum started shifting towards the States. It was so difficult to close it out because they would make some incredible gets (points scored by a rally wins)  or some incredible shots.”

Iwaasa thought of the World Games as one of his more fantastic ones to participate in.

“The Chinese crowd and the atmosphere that they brought to each game was phenoenal,” said Iwaasa.

“Then being able to participate in my very  first World Games and also to come home with a medal, it was a very successful tournament for us and very proud of how we accomplished our goals.”

The duo went 3-1 in their matches over the course of the four-day racquetball tournament.

Iwaasa lost in the quarterfinals during the singles competition.

This was only the fourth medal in Canadian racquetball history at the World Games and the first medal in a mixed doubles competition that was newly added.

“I’m really proud to represent Canada on a stage like this and I’m happy that  I can bring home some good results for everybody,” said Iwaasa.

The World Games is a competition that includes  multiple sports and disciplines that do not fall under an Olympic  Games programme.

-With files from Justin Seward, Lethbridge Herald