The 30/35/40 Individual World Championships were held last week in Lisbon, Portugal in singles/doubles/mixed.
There were not many Americans who stayed to play the second week but Mariko Fritz-Krakow from NorCal, Mariana Correa, Florida and Yuliya Bourim, the College of the Desert Coach from SoCal all medaled.
Mariko was the third seed in women’s 40 singles and reached the final against defending champion Manon Kruse of Germany, the two-time defending champion. Both players reached the final with the loss of only a few games…only four for Kruse and six for Mariko. Kruse won the final 63 64 to defend her tile (and won the 40 doubles and mixed as well…plus a silver in the team competition…impressive!). Mariko was on the 35s team for the USA which finished 5th and also won a bronze medal in doubles with Angela Lawrence-Hendy of Great Britain.
Yuliya Bourim of USA was a bronze medalist in 35 mixed (with Joe Cooper, GBR) and 35 doubles (with Rita Freitas, Portugal).
Mariana Correa of USA, and a member of the 4th place W30 team, won a bronze medal in the Mixed 30s with Goncalo Falcao of Portugal.
Congratulations to all the players who participated.
