New 18-year-old world racquetball champion Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala ©GOC

Ana Gabriela Martinez earned revenge for her 2016 defeat by Paola Longoria in the last International Racquetball Federation World Championships women’s final by beating her Mexican rival to the title in this year’s edition.

The 18-year-old Guatemalan defeated the 27-year-old three-times world champion - and sometime doubles partner - by 8-15, 15-6, 15-6 at the event venue in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose.

She thus became the first non north-American woman to win this world title.

This marks another huge step forward for the rising Guatemala player, who took up the sport 12 years ago as a "hyperactive child" and who practices six days a week, up to six hours a day.

Mexico's Roderigo Montoya, at back of court, beat Charlie Pratt of the United States in the men's final of the Racquetball World Championships in Costa Rica ©Instagram
Mexico's Roderigo Montoya, at back of court, beat Charlie Pratt of the United States in the men's final of the Racquetball World Championships in Costa Rica ©Instagram

The next big goal for her will be next year’s Pan American Games in Lima in Peru. 

The men’s event also had a new champion as, in the absence of five-times winner Rocky Carson of the United States, Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico earned a 15-14, 15-9 final win over Carson’s compatriot Charlie Pratt.

It marked the end of a great tournament for the Mexican, who had beaten US top seed David Horn in the semi-finals.

He becomes only the second Mexican to win the men's title since Alvaro Beltran in 2000.