KRENN AND BJÖRNSTRÖM WORLD CHAMPIONS

Christoph Krenn (Aut) and Michaela Björnström (Fin) are the new World Champions. In a thrilling final the number one took down top favourite Mikko Kärkkainen. Peter Bittar from Sweden (Seniors +45) defends his World Championship title and Poland surprises to win the nationalteam competition at the World Champs in Löhne (19.-21.11). Richard Whitehouse (Eng) is the new Seniors +55 World Champion and brothers Ken-Kristian and Andre-Kristopher Toomjoe from Estonia take Juniors u21 and u16 titles. U21 Girls went to Marta Jez from Poland. In total the World Champs ended in a defeat of the Scandinavian countries with Finland (4.) and Sweden (7.) not in the top three of the medals table. Austria with five medals was the most successful country with Poland and Estonia on the podium. Full results on www.resultreporter.com

Krenn first Non-Scandinavian World Champion

In a 48-draw of the Men Elite there were many surprises and of the top four seeded only World number one Christoph Krenn (Aut) made it to the semifinals after defeating Christian Wall (Swe) in the quarters. Surprisingly he then faced rising star Joey Schubert (Aut), who eliminated Stefan Adamsson after an unbelievable Tennis set and Jermaine Manners. Against Krenn though the Austrian messed up the Badminton set and had to be more than happy with the bronze medal after a victory of the second surprise of the tournament: Peter Duyck. The Belgian beat Elmar Schaub (Ger) and ended the career of Doug Struthers (Eng), who chose to retire after the Worlds. Reigning champion Mikko Kärkkäinen had little problems to reach the final, where he was the top favourite and started of well with a 21:12 in Tabletennis. Krenn came back and took a big victory in Badminton with 21:13 and gave everything in Squash to make 17 points. So the Finn needed 16 points in Tennis, four too many at 21:12 the game was over and Krenn the first World Champion not from Scandinavia.

Björnström not to defeat

In the Women Elite Michaela Björnström (Fin) defended her title although she was not in the best shape the whole weekend. The later World Champion even lost her nationalteam match to Marta Jez, but the strong polish girl had no wildcard for Women A and waited for a no show which did not come. In the final Björnström was in trouble nearly lost Tabletennis to Marielle van der Woerdt (Ned) and got a thrashing in Badminton, but in the end it was enough to secure her title after winning Squash with 21:8. Third place went to World number one Martina Kakosova (Cze), who beat German Silke Altmann (Ger) in the play off.

Poland strongest team

The national team event ended with the biggest surprise of maybe all draws. Unseeded Poland chose a tactical line up, leaving Norbert Stolicki on the bench. Kristof Samonek, Rav Rykovski and Marek Wojnarski and the strongest girl in the competition only 19-year old Marta Jez ended up being the first team to beat Sweden in the quarters, then it was the turn of Finland and in the final Austrians fell. The topseeds with Krenn, Dickert, Schubert and Simone Seitz won all the mens matches but lost the women so big that they could not catch up the points and Poland fixed the victory in the last tennis match when Wojnarski needed 2 points against Schubert and it was over at 2:8. Bronze went to Finland who beat the second surprise Czech Republic in the play-off. The new format with the whole team playing each sport one at a time on one court was appreciated by everyone and showed who had the best fans. Rumours say it was the Austrians.

Bittar and Whitehouse best Seniors

In the Seniors 45+ draw Peter Bittar took the only gold medal for Sweden at this years World Champs. In the final the youngest Senior Steve Thomson from Scotland (who beat topseeded Volker Sach in the quarters) won Badminton but was chanceless otherwise. Peter Sakovics took Bronze in a draw which was very close all the way, the Hungarian only beat Christan Alte (Ger) in the quarters in the gummiarm point. In 55+ it was Englishman Richard Whitehouse who won the title he long deserved. Jaroslav Schwan (Cze) and Swedish President Lennart Eklundh (Swe) took their places on the podium.

Estonian Toomjoe-Brothers best Juniors

The best juniors come from Estonia. Ken-Kristian wins u21 with a strong performance and defeat of reigning World Champion Anti Tyyskä (Fin) in the final and Paul Sach as Third. It has to be mentioned though that Johannes Schubert had to pull out due to his success in the Men Elite. In u16 Andre Kristopher took the title by beating Alexander Oliver from England and another medal for Italy by David Castracane. In u13 Austrias Kris Krawcewicz was not to beat again. Marta Jez was the most successful player of the World Championships, after the team and Women B she took her third gold medal in the u21 girls competition. Triple victory for Germany in the girls u16 draw with Julia Knake the winner.

Many nations win medals

Many different nations among the top three in all other draws proves how far Racketlon has developed in the countries. While Women B – Amateur was easily won by Marta Jez from Poland, Monica Calabria took a bronze medal for Italy. In Men B - Advanced national team players Olli Marjamäki (Fin) and Marek Wojnarski (Pol) battled for the title with the better end for the Finn. Men C – Amateur ended with a home victory for Germany by Alex Czerny and one of the top seniors David Lazarus (Eng) as a runner up. In Men D – Beginner Andrew Hogg took the trophy for Scotland and two more countries in the top three: 2. Jos Meermann (Ned) and 3. Artur Zaicevs (Lat).

Fantastic World Championships

“It were fantastic World Championships. FIR is very happy they were moved from Fürth to Löhne in the end”, says FIR-President Marcel Weigl and thanks Stephan Frenkel and his team for very good work. A superb Racketsports centre, with nice center courts, referees, live scoreing via resultreporter and a players party including the international shoe throwing contest make the tournament not to forget for all participants. Not to mention nice tournament hotels and a superb shuttle service “We are glad Germany have finally proved they can do it and we hope for many more tournaments there.” The Racketlon World Tour will now pause for nearly three months and start up at the end of February 2010 with Swedish Open in Malmö.

Report: Marcel Weigl

World Champs Results

World Champs Pictures

Medal Winners

Women A - Elite
1 Michaela Björnström, Finland
2 Marielle van der Woerdt, Netherlands
3 Martina Kakosova, Czech Republic

Men A - Elite
1 Christoph Krenn, Austria
2 Mikko Kärkkaiinen, Finland
3 Joey Schubert, Austria

National Teams
1 Poland
2 Austria
3 Finland

Seniors 45+
1 Peter Bittar, Sweden
2 Steve Thomson, Scotland
3 Peter Sakovics, Hungry

Seniors 55+
1 Richard Whitehouse, England
2 Jaroslav Schwan, Czech Republic
3 Lennart Eklundh, Schweden

Juniors u13
1 Kris Irek Krawcewicz , Austria
2 David Jones, England
3 Nikita Ribakovs, Latvia

Juniors u16
1 Andre-Kristopher Toomjoe, Estonia
2 Alexander Oliver, England
3 David Castracane, Italy

Juniors u21
1 Ken-Kristian Toomjoe, Estonia
2 Anti Tyyskä, Finland
3 Paul Sach, Germany

Girls u16
1 Julia Knake, Germany
2 Leonie Hartmann, Germanny
3 Sabrina Leibig, Germany

Girls u21
1 Marta Jez, Poland
2 Julija Korolova, Latvia
3 Kerstin Peckl, Austria

Men B - Advanced
1 Olli Marjamäk, Finland
2 Marek Wojnarski, Poland
3 Mikael von Matern, Sweden

Men C - Amateur
1 Alex Czerny, Germany
2 David Lazarus , England
3 Erik Stenfelt, Sweden

Men D - Beginner
1 Andrew Hogg, Scotland
2 Jos Meermann, Netherlands
3 Artur Zaicevs, Latvia

Women B - Amateur
1 Marta Jez, Poland
2 Sandy Steffl, Germany
3 Monica Calabria, Italy

Medal Table (All main draws) Gold, Silver, Bronze, Total
1. Austria 2G 1S 2B 5
2. Poland 2G 2
2. Estonia 2G 2
4. Finland 1G 2S 1B 4
5. England 1G 2S 3
6. Germany 1G 1S 2B 4
7. Sweden 1G 1B 2
8. Latvia 1S 1B 2
8. Czech 1S 1B 2
10. Scotland 1S 1
10. Netherlands 1S 1
12. Italy 1B 1
12. Hungary 1B 1
Total 10G 10S 10B 30