Miguel Rodriguez wins World Games Bronze Medal

UNSQUASHABLE player Miguel Rodriguez rolled back the years to defeat second seed Dimitri Steinmann of Switzerland and secure the Bronze Medal at the World Games in China.

In his fourth consecutive appearance at the World Games, the 39-year-old Colombian bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on a place in the gold medal match, following a thrilling 83-minute semi-final loss to top seed Victor Crouin of France.

On the all-glass show court at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre in Chengdu, Miguel overcame Switzerland’s No.1 with a stunning 5-11 11-8 11-5 11-6 victory in 69 minutes – matching his Bronze Medal achievement from the 2022 World Games in the USA.

World Games 2025, Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre, Chengdu, China
Men's Bronze Medal Play-Off: [3] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 5-11 11-8 11-5 11-6 (69m)

UNSQUASHABLE player Miguel Rodriguez was denied a place in the Gold Medal match at the 2025 World Games by top seed Victor Crouin of France who eventually prevailed 10-12 11-6 5-11 11-3 11-8 in a spectacular 83-minute men's semi-final staged on the all-glass show court at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre in Chengdu, China.

Crouin, the defending champion, edged past 2022 Bronze Medallist Miguel Rodriguez in a captivating contest that swung dramatically from start to finish.

The semi-final was a rematch of their last-four encounter at the 2022 World Games, which Crouin won in four games en route to the title. This time, it was Miguel who made the stronger start, edging a fiercely contested opening game 12-10 to strike first. Crouin responded with a composed 11-6 win in the second, only for the Colombian veteran to regain the advantage 11-5 in the third.

Undeterred, the French top seed surged through the fourth 11–3 to level once again to set-up a tense decider. Miguel, competing in his fourth and final appearance at The World Games, looked poised for an upset as he opened up a 7-3 lead, forcing errors from Crouin and moving within four points of the final.

But Crouin held his nerve, reeling off five consecutive points to turn the momentum and close-out the match by taking the deciding game 11-8. The victory not only ended Miguel’s hopes of a fairytale finish but also marked another milestone for Crouin, who later reflected on how his semi-final win over his Colombian rival three years ago proved a pivotal moment in his rise to the world’s top eight.

World Games 2025, Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre, Chengdu, China
Men's Semi-Final: [1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [3/4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 10-12, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8 (83m)

UNSQUASHABLE player Miguel Rodriguez will face top seed Victor Crouin in the semi-finals of the World Games following an impressive 11-7 11-8 11-3 victory over Hong Kong, China’s No.1 Alex Lau on the all-glass show court at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre in Chengdu, China.

French No.1 and top seed Victor Crouin denied an all-UNSQUASHABLE semi-final with a 42-minute 11-9 11-9 11-2 win over Yannick Wilhelmi of Switzerland.

Men's Quarter-Finals: [3/4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5/8] Alex Lau (HKG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (43m)

UNSQUASHABLE players Miguel Rodriguez and Yannick Wilhelmi progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Games with hard-fought victories over Noor Zaman and Alejandro Enriquez respectively at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre in Chengdu, China.

No.3 seed Miguel Rodriguez and No.8 seed Yannick Wilhelmi were both forced to dig deep to register their 2nd round wins.

Colombia's Miguel Rodriguez defeated Noor Zaman of Pakistan 2-11 11-7 11-9 11-13 11-6 in 73 minutes in the headline match of the 2nd round, was a captivating 73-minute battle between the 39-year-old former World No.4 and Pakistan’s reigning U23 World Champion. A Bronze Medallist in both 2013 and 2022, Miguel Rodriguez endured a torrid start as Zaman dominated the opening game 11–2. The Colombian then settled into his rhythm, edging ahead by taking the second and third games 11-7 11-9.

Noor Zaman, 18 years Miguel’s junior, refused to fade, saving a match ball in the fourth before edging a tense tie-break 13-11 to force a deciding game. Yet in a remarkable display of endurance, it was Miguel Rodriguez who looked the fresher player in the fifth, capitalising on errors from the tiring Pakistani to close out the fifth game 11-6 and secure his fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance at The World Games.

Miguel Rodriguez will next face Hong Kong, China’s Alex Lau, the No.5 seed, who advanced with a straight-games victory over Egypt’s Mohamed Nasser.

Yannick Wilhelmi of Switzerland beat Alejandro Enriquez of Guatemala 8-11 11-9 11-3 11-6 in 52 minutes in his 2nd round match and will face top seed top seed Victor Crouin of France in the In the quarter-finals.

Men's 2nd Round: [3/4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [9/16] Noor Zaman (PAK) 2-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 11-6 (73m)

UNSQUASHABLE players Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia and Yannick Wilhelmi both registered comprehensive victories on the opening day of the squash competition of the World Games being staged at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre in Chengdu, China.

Third seed Miguel Rodriguez defeated Zhang Guanyu of China 11-1 11-0 11-1 in just 17 minutes whilst Yannick Wilhelmi overcame Leon Krysiak of Poland 7-11 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 in 42 minutes.

UNSQUASHABLE player Ronald Palomino was denied a place in the men's 2nd round by Josue Enriquez of Guatemala, who defeated the young Colombian 11-4 11-9 11-8 in a hard-fought 53 minutes.

Miguel Rodriguez will face Noor Zaman in the 2nd round whilst Yannick Wilhelmi will play Alejandro Enriquez.

Men's 1st Round: [3/4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Zhang Guanyu (CHN) 11-1, 11-0, 11-1 (17m)

For full results from the 2025 World Games, visit:  International Squash Magazine