USA Racquetball

Navin Deo (Chicago, IL) won two gold medals at the 2007 Choice Hotels US OPEN in the Men's 45+C and Men's 55+C divisions. Deo a national-level squash player for many years, won the first racquetball tournament he ever played in the 1980s while a student at Columbia College in Chicago. His tournament win earned him a part-time job as a racquetball instructor at the Lawson YMCA in Chicago.

Deo began concentrating on racquetball instead of squash only five years ago. " I really enjoy playing the sport because the ball bounces a lot more than a squash ball and is comparatively easier to retrieve," said Deo. "Furthermore, the court has no out-of -bounds lines unlike the squash court. That's what makes the game so much fun to play!"

Deo plays regularly at the Bally Total Fitness in Morton Grove, IL as well as other racquetball facilities in the area. He credits better and younger players for helping to improve his game. Apart from that, he says, "I do believe that clean footwork was key to winning the US Open."

"I look forward to playing again in Memphis. It was a well-run tournament and watching the Pros play is always an inspiration!" Deo works for the City of Chicago.

2007 US OPEN Results