World Junior Championships Start Thursday

Nearly 300 athletes from 10 countries will converge at Fountain Valley for the International Racquetball Federation World Junior Championships, beginning Thursday at the Los Caballeros Sports Village.

There are 29 categories of competition in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles. The World Cup will be awarded to the nation whose official team delegation earns the most points overall for advancing through the collective draws.

Since the inception of the team competition format, the junior U.S. team has won all five titles. Last year, the United States dominated the boys’ side, sweeping all seven singles events. Canada won four of seven girls’ singles titles.

Some top players are: Rocky Carson of Santa Maria, who won the boys’ age 16-and-under title last year and will compete for the 18-and-under title this year, and Rhonda Rajsich of Phoenix, who won the U.S. National High School Championships and will compete in the 18-and-under division.