After an eight-year absence, squash made its long-awaited return to the Central American and Caribbean Games, delivering an unforgettable week of competition at Ágora Mall in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The return of the sport was made possible thanks to the determination of Irving Vargas, President of the Dominican Squash Federation, whose commitment ensured squash remained on the Games program despite significant venue challenges just months before the event.
Two spectacular glass courts installed in one of the Caribbean’s busiest shopping centers became the stage for elite competition, bringing squash closer than ever to the public and creating an electric atmosphere throughout the tournament.
A milestone for PanAm Squash
The Santo Domingo 2026 edition brought together 11 national federations:
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Colombia
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Dominican Republic
- Trinidad & Tobago
One of the tournament’s biggest successes was the competitiveness across the region. Already four different nations have reached the podium, highlighting the continued growth and development of squash throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.
The diversity of medal-winning nations reflects the strength and depth of squash across the Pan American region.
Women’s Individual Results
The women’s competition produced one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Games.
Margot Prow (Barbados) captured the gold medal, becoming the first Barbadian woman ever to win a Central American and Caribbean Games squash title. Prow defeated teammate Meagan Best in an all-Barbados final, marking an extraordinary achievement for the nation’s squash program.
Medalists
🥇 Margot Prow (Barbados)
🥈 Meagan Best (Barbados)
🥉 Laura Tovar(Colombia)
🥉 Lucía Bautista (Colombia)
The event also showcased Colombia’s continued consistency, with both Laura Tovar and Lucía Bautista reaching the semifinals and earning bronze medals.
Men’s Individual Results
The men’s tournament delivered another historic storyline.
Mexico’s Leonel Cárdenas claimed the gold medal after defeating Colombian legend Miguel Ángel Rodríguez in straight games in the championship match. The victory marked Mexico’s first men’s singles gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 20 years, while also representing one of the biggest achievements of Cárdenas’ career.
Rodríguez, one of the greatest players in Pan American squash history, earned the silver medal after another outstanding tournament.
Medalists
🥇 Leonel Cárdenas (Mexico)
🥈 Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (Colombia)
🥉 Juan Camilo Vargas (Colombia)
🥉 Alejandro Enríquez (Guatemala)
The results once again demonstrated the strength of Pan American squash, with four different athletes from three nations reaching the podium.
The tournament continues
While the individual champions have now been crowned, the action in Santo Domingo is far from over.
The doubles and team competition is already underway, with national squads now battling for regional supremacy in what promises to be another exciting chapter of the Central American and Caribbean Games.
As PanAm Squash celebrates the successful return of the sport to the Games, Santo Domingo 2026 has already proven to be a milestone event—showcasing world-class competition, passionate fans, and a bright future for squash across the Americas