Mexican beach volleyball duo Ines Antonio Vargas Lares and Carlos Andres Ayala Herrera have made a powerful start at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships held in Puebla, Mexico. Their opening match saw them dominate Belgium’s Casper Willems and Alexy Humblet in straight sets (21-16, 21-14), firing up the home crowd with a display of focused and confident play.
Led by Olympic and world champion Ricardo Santos, the young team is setting its sights on making history—no men’s team from Mexico has ever claimed a world title at the U21 level. Their recent achievements enhance their prospects, including:
- Winning four NORCECA medals this season
- Reaching the round of 16 at the senior-level Veracruz Challenge on the Beach Pro Tour
- A fourth-place finish at the U19 World Championship in China last year
Now 19 years old, Lares and Carlos Andres are harnessing their prior momentum and the support of a vibrant home crowd to fuel their aspirations. The tournament, held in Cholula, is not only an opportunity for personal achievement but also part of a broader national effort to develop Mexico's beach volleyball program with an eye on the Pan American Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The team is set to face further challenges in their group matches against Thailand's Paphawin Manyahong and Wichaya Wisetkan, followed by a showdown with Canada’s Louis Charbonneau and Henry Heider.
The competition runs through October 20 and serves as a platform for emerging international talent. With an impressive start, Lares and Carlos Andres are now key players to watch as the event unfolds.
For more details, visit the official article on the FIVB website.
