Unlike squash, the rules of racquetball contemplate playing for longer hours. Even though both sports are played in an indoor court of 6x12 m, with four walls and a ceiling, racquetball players must maintain their service to keep scoring. This means that the psychological aspect is often more important than the physical.

At the Callao Regional Sports Village courts, racquetball semi-finals promise to be exciting, due to the great level of competitors. In fact, the current world champion lost in the round of 16in the women's category. The Argentinian Natalia Méndez was the responsible for leaving the Guatemalan Ana Gabriela Martínez without a gold medal.

She was born in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, but she represents the Argentinian team, due to her great affinity with Argentina. Her seven junior tittles give her a credit for winning the gold medal. “I started to play when I was 13 in Bolivia, but only three years ago I was able to travel with the Argentinian team for the professional tour. I have been able to improve my level because of the opportunities they've given me,” she said.

However, she has yet to compete against Paola Longoria, the best female racquetball player of all time, who is ready to earn her third consecutive Pan American gold medal. Likewise, the Mexican star player has respect for all competitors. She does not want to be surprised.

“The level across the continent has matched in recent years and, as years go by, new faces with incredible performances arrive. I have been working for about 10 years with my multidisciplinary team and, although I can no longer train as I did before, I still have the ambition to be the best player in my sport,” said Paola Longoria.

Racquetball will be contested in individuals, doubles and team events at the Pan American Games. All matches will be played to the best of three sets. The first two sets will be played to 15 points and the third set to 11 points, according to International Racquetball Federation regulations. Fans can buy tickets for this event on the Pan American and Parapan American Games official website. lima2019.pe/tickets

Additionally, you can buy your tickets at any authorized point of sale at the Metro and Wong supermarkets and stores in the districts of Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel and Surco.  It is worth mentioning that a new point of sale has just opened at the Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco.

They are seen wearing their blue and white wigs and cheering their team up at every moment. Dressed in the multicolored shirts of their favorite clubs, they are always present in every important competition the Argentinian basketball team participates in. They are drawn by an immeasurable passion, born 14 years ago, in the golden generation led by Emanuel Ginóbili. Since then, a group of 25 fans from different provinces of Argentina gather together to follow their team. Lima 2019 is not an exception. 

Nowadays, there are different idols. Now, they encourage Facundo Campazzo or Luis Scola, but the “albiceleste” identity never changes. They were also present on the Eduardo Dibós Coliseum stands, full of joy and encouraging their team to make the dream of the Pan American gold true. 

“La Banda Loca” follows the Argentina team since 2004, when the golden generation lead by "Manu" Ginóbili was born. We're going to the world championship in China at the end of the month. We are crazy for the Argentinian basketball team. It's in our blood,” said Silvio, who was born in Chubut. 

Another fan called “doctor Rosso”, who came from San Luis province, firmly said. “This is a team that always surprises us and gives us joy. They convinced us one day Argentina will be a world champion or an Olympic champion. This team embodies the true spirit of Argentinian sports. The game identity football doesn't have and basketball never lost,” he concluded. 

“La Banda Loca” has already been to four Olympic Games, three FIBA World Championships, and three Pan American Games. The Argentinian basketball team will always have the support of their fans in the most important competitions. 

She is considered one of the most representative athletes in the history of Argentina. Her name brings memories of the glory days of her country in international hockey competitions, and it is thanks to her that the Argentinian team is currently a top contender. Luciana “Lucha” Aymar, known as the “Maradona of hockey” at her best moment, is in Peru to enjoy the competitions taking place at different venues. 

“Lucha” has been awarded as best player of the world eight times (2001, 2004, 2005, in four successive years between 2007 and 2010, and 2013). In 2008, she was named a Legend of Hockey by the International Hockey Federation. 

The importance of our visitor is so huge that, as captain of Argentina’s hockey team between 2009 and 2014, she was world champion in 2002 and 2010. Furthermore, she participated in four Olympic Games. She won silver medals at Sydney 2000 and London 2012, and bronze medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.  

She also won the Champions Trophy, the main hockey tournament in the world, six times: in 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Her fame increased with the three gold medals she obtained at the Pan American Games (Winnipeg 1999, Santo Domingo 2003, and Rio 2007). 

Taking advantage of her stay in Peru, we talked to “Lucha” Aymar, who was in Villa María del Triunfo to see the match of her former teammates “Las Leonas” of Argentina that defeated Canada 3-0. The Argentinian sport legend was accompanied by her boyfriend, the former Chilean tennis player Fernando González, another important visitor. 

“THE ORGANIZATION IS REALLY GOOD” 

Luciana Aymar highlights the fact that the Pan American Games are being held in Peru and its legacy to Peruvian sports, such as the two hockey fields built in the Villa María del Triunfo venue. 

 “I spent a few days in Peru, and during those three days I could watch different sports. I think it’s good that South America can organize this type of Games and, honestly, Peru did it very well. The stadiums are wonderful, and the organization is really good,” she said. 

She stressed the importance of the legacy that will remain for the future of Peruvian sport. “The hockey field is awesome. I hope they use it a lot. Sports and the Pan American Games allow a country to strengthen a lot of aspects. Of course, they also encourage kids to get a little closer to sports. Also, they leave an amazing infrastructure,” said the athlete. 

 At the end, her former teammates, the “Leonas” of Argentina, defeated Canada by 3-0. “Lucha” went down to the hockey field to congratulate each one of them for their victory. “I hope Argentina can win the gold medal at the Pan American Games because we have a nice team,” told us the Argentinian sport legend.

Luis Scola and his teammates had already started playing at the Eduardo Dibós Coliseum; however, hundreds of people were still out in the streets lining up, between Angamos and Aviación Avenues. The two consecutive basketball matches featured Argentina, the favorite to win the gold at Lima 2019, as the main attraction, and the strong team of Dominican Republic as the stellar. The public present in the venue located in the district of San Borja rewarded them with a round of applause, after each impressive point.

Peruvians that attended the match of the “Albicelestes” against Uruguay sympathized with the “charrúa” team that could barely keep up with the star players that compete in European leagues. Gabriel Deck, star player of Real Madrid, was the top scorer, and Scola also made slam dunks that resulted in an overwhelming triumph with a difference of more than 40 points.

“I’m very happy to be in my first Pan American Games, and most importantly I believe that people had a good time. I’m happy that the kids gave me with a round of applause. The idea is to win. If we were able to put on a nice show, as happened in the last quarter, it’s only because of the high-competition level of all players,” pointed out the legendary center Luis Scola.

Nicolás Laprovittola, on the other hand, highlighted the respect shown by the Peruvian public. “We were focused at all times because our main goal is to win the gold at Lima 2019. We also feel close to the people, and if we can put on a show, as we did during the match, then we’ll do it. But our priority is to win,” said the Real Madrid forward.

The competitions will continue tomorrow with the “Albicelestes” facing Dominican Republic at 13:30 on the second match of Group B, which includes Mexico and Uruguay too. There are still tickets available to see the best basketball players on our website: www.lima2019.pe/tickets or at the 11 authorized Teleticket points of sale throughout the city.