FIR has now released the official elite draws for Dutch Open next weekend (10.-11. July). Te defending champions Alex Köpf and Marielle van der Woerdt are the favourites for victory in this years 8-player draws. All other draws and the time schedule will be online on the tournament homepage http://www.racketlon.nl/com/ shortly. The elite draws are on www.resultreporter.com

While Mikko Kärkkäinen fell to place twevle in the latest FIR World Rankings of 1st July, Michaela Björnström has already climbed to place 4 and is sure to attack the top position soon. New number two is Austrian Kerstin Peckl. Still number one with nearly 9000 Euro points is World Champion Christoph Krenn, in the World Tour Race though it is Joey Schubert who has now taken the lead. Seniors is still in the hand of Peter Sakovics from Hungary.

All draws of the Double World Champs in Zürich (25.-27.6) are completed and Michaela Björnström from Finland has crowned herself to the best Racketlon player ever. With victories in Mixed Doubles together with boyfriend Mikko Kärkkainen (see pic) and her first title in Women Doubles with Marielle van der Woerdt (Ned), the reigning single World Champion is the first person to hold three World Championship titles at the same time. The Men Doubles final could not have been tighter and was decided by the gummiarm point with Michael Dickert/Christoph Krenn (Aut) winning back their World Champs title over first timers Alex Köpf/Joey Schubert (Ger/Aut), who even missed a match point. Seniors (+45) went to Volker Sach/Peter Sakovics (Ger/Hun) All results are now online on www.resultreporter.com

The first Israel Racketlon championships with more then 80 player in 4 classes was played last weekend (19-20.6) place in "Kfar Hamaccabiya" near Tel-Aviv . The winner of the elite is Cohen Gil a former pro tennis player who beat the veteran Iftach Gesser in the final only by 8 points -5,+8,-12,+17. Israeli president Iftach Gesser won the seniors +45 , the u19 title go to Asi Shtien, a junior tennis champion. "Israel is ready for a FIR Challenger 2011", promises Iftach Gesser.

Double victory for Christoph Krenn in Canada at the Championnat International de Racketlon Allergan (18-20.6). The world champion defends his title in the final against of the 3rd Super World Tour event of the year against newcomer Patrick Laplante Junior who won gold in the Juniors class (u21). Krenn also wins the Mens Doubles with Horatio Pintea who makes it to the top of the podium in the Seniors (+45) draw too. The womens title went to Marie-Helene Bedard. Men B - Advanced was won by Francis Soucy. All results on resultreporter.com

FIR announces that together with the Austrian Open and the World Championships for national teams from 3-5 September in Vienna see www.racketlon.at/wct2010 there will be two new competitions. One for Juniors u21 and the second one for Seniors (+45) national teams. FIR has also released today the Tournament Regulations for 2011, with the application deadline for World Tour events 30th of June 2010.

Since King of Rackets is on the FIR World Tour Belgium has been waiting for this moment. Homevictory and first international title for Peter Duyck at the 2nd Super World Tour event of the year with 125 players from 16 countries in Oudernaarde (4.-6.6.). Astonishing also the first ever World Tour title for France, with a surprise victory of unseeded Florence Martin-Bouet. Also unseeded the winners of men doubles, Emil Bergander/ Ray Jordan and local hero Guillaume Lahourcade in Seniors (+45). All results on www.resutlreporter.com and www.kingofrackets.be

On the same day of the Racketlon Champions League Final another milestone was set, this time in Russia. On Saturday the 22 May the first Racketlon tournament ever was held in Moscow with 20 men and 4 women. Among them were the strongest Russian Squash player Irina Assal (#70 of the world ranking),Senior badminton World Champion 2003 Oleg Okunev, Senior European Champion Vladimir Koloskov, World Champion Weight-lifting Valery Litvinko.

FIR has published the new world rankings (1st June) with one major change at the top. New world number one is Silke Altmann (Race 3rd) from Germany pushing Martina Kakosova (Cze) to place two. Vienna winner Katy Buchanan has climbed from no where to position 28. In Men singles Christoph Krenn stays at the top, but Stefan Adamsson (Swe) getting closer to him. The shooting stars of the year u21 players Johannes Schubert and Kerstin Peckl from Austria have both already reached place three and even took the lead in the World Tour Race, which is dominated by Austria: 2. Marcel Weigl, 3. Christoph Krenn. Second on the womens side is another rising star: Dominika Koukalova from the Czech Republic. Hungarian Peter Sakovics stays seniors world number one.

Thanks to an invitation by RFA – Racketlon Federation Austria (who paid flights and hotel) the Indian Racketlon President was able to make his first ever 10-day trip to Europe from 21st to 31st of May. Manoranjan Mishra participated in the International World Tour Event Vienna Classics and 24 AUTOHÖFE Champions Leauge (21.-23. May), as well as the FIR seminar for country representatives the same weekend. After that his trip took him to witness Racketlon action in Salzburg and finally to a meeting with Czech President Svatopluk Rejthar in Prague.

Thanks to a FIR initiative, Racketlon has now made its way to the biggest combined sports event for youngsters between 10 und 18 years of age on the globe: the World Sports Festival. Held for the third time in and around Vienna/Austria from 9th to 11th July 2010 the sport event with expected 6000 participants from all over the world is under the patronage of UNESCO and offers all young sportsmen an international competition and intercultural exchange of experiences. “These are the Olympic Games for Juniors”, is FIR-President Marcel Weigl proud. More information and registration on www.world-sports-festival.com

With victories of most favourites the Swedish national championships ended in Stockholm last weekend (28.-29.5). World number two Stefan Adamsson (photing.com) took the title as did national number one Anneli Andersson. At the Dutch Championships in Houten, Marielle van der Woerdt confirmed her number on position in the country, while the men elite draw ended with the title for Alwin Krist. Best Seniors (+45) are Word Champion Peter Bittar (Swe) and Martin Monfils (Ned).

Sweden and Scotland hit back to defeat the Austrians on their home ground. Stefan Adamsson and Katy Buchanan are the winners of the VIENNA CLASSICS with 108 players from 16 countries. The Seniors (45+) title went to Peter Sakovics from Hungary. The first ever 24 AUTOHÖFE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE was won by Racketpoint Vienna from Austria. In a thrilling final the team with around world champion Christoph Krenn, Johannes Schubert, Michael Dickert, Stefan Jezler, Silke Altmann and Kerstin Peckl defeated Racketlon Klosterneuburg with with Stefan Adamsson, Calum Reid, Marcel Weigl, Levente Nandori, Simone Seitz and Katy Buchanan. National television was on site, see the Racketlon news here! All complete results on www.resultreporter.com

Johannes Schubert and Kerstin Peckl are the winners of Hungarian Open with nearly 100 players in Budapest last weekend. In the final the Austrians beat unseeded Rav Rykovski and topseeded Natalie Lawrence. In Seniors 45+ Peter Sakovics (see pic) saves the Hungarian honour with a close victory over new Belgian senior Guillaume Lahourcade. Mixed went to Natalie Lawrence/Andrers Soederlund and Marcel Weigl/Joey Schubert won the Men Doubles. For both pairs it was the first title together on the FIR World Tour. Poker champion was organiser Zoltan Albert. All results here!

Congratulations to Jonathan Foulds (pic middle) who took the British Championships men's elite crown last weekend, winning his very first British tour event, six years into his Racketlon odyssey. In the final Jon overcame relative newcomer Chris Mckee. Jon needed 13 points going into the tennis & achieved this with just one point to spare & to avoid the gumiarm (21-18,6-21,21-0,13-20). Congratulations also to the elite women's winner Gemma Sgariglia. A more detailed report can be found on the news section of the ERA website.

Austrians Christoph Krenn and Kerstin Peckl win the first ever Italian Open (23. - 25.4) in Milano. Together with Johannes Schubert and Lieselot De Bleeckere they also both win the Men and Women Doubles title. Peter Sakovics once again won the Seniors (+45) draw. The Challenger was a big success with nearly 140 participants and Tournament Director Gianpaolo Martire has big plans for 2011: "We want a Super World Tour or even one of the World Champs." All results are now online on resultreporter.com

Massive Racketlon action is going on around the globe in the coming two weeks. While the first ever Scottish Racketlon Tour is starting on Sunday 18th April a the University of Stirling, there will be no less than at least four Racketlon events going on the following weekend. First ever international Racketlon tournament in Italy, Italian Open in Milano, will start on Friday 23rd. One day later the German Bundesliga preliminary round commences in Löhne (World Champs 2009 venue) on Saturday the 24th, as well as the BABOLAT Austrian Tour holding its 4th stop of the year in Linz. Finally the first ever national Racketlon tournament is held in Slovenia on Saturday and the Wilson Night Tour in Switzerland.

FIR has now published two new guideline papers (see pdfs below) for all existing and potential national Racketlon Federations in order to give all countries the maximum possible assistance. “10 Steps to a National Racketlon Federation” addresses new countries, while “10 Tasks to grow Racketlon nationally” concerns existing FIR members. Furthermore FIR has now started a partnership program between its members to help developing countries with the start of Racketlon. As the first country Austria has invited Indian president Manoranjan Mishra (bottum left) to the Champions League.

The new FIR World Rankings (1. April) show little changes at the top with Martina Kakosova (Cze) and Christoph Krenn still in the lead, with the Austrian being number one in Men Doubles too. In Mixed Doubles Czechs hold the podium with Vesely (1.), Sodomkova (2.) and Kakosova (3.). Best youngster is Ken-Kristjan Toomjoe (Est) and best Senior is still Peter Sakovics (Hun), who also tops the World Tour Race for Seniors. In the elite two Austrians are being chased in the race: Swedish Open winner Kerstin Peckl and who else but World Champion Christoph Krenn.

Joey Schubert wins Czech Open (26-28.3) in Prague and his first FIR World Tour title with a clear victory against Jermaine Manners in the final after beating World Champion Christoph Krenn in the semis. World Number one Martina Kakosova takes a home victory over Silke Altmann in the final. Doubles went to Samonek/Stolicki, Mixed to Vesely/Sodomkova and Women Doubles went to Horvath/Hrabina. In Seniors 45+ Peter Sakovics stod on the top of the podium, in +55 Jaroslav Schwan. All Results are online on www.resultreporter.com

The first ever official Racketlon tournament in Australia was held in Melbourne at Latrobe University with around 20 players organised by the Squash coach Leigh Sands. Racketlon was imported by Scottish players Calum (a former national team player) and Neil Munro who have participated on many World Tour events before moving to Australia a couple of years ago. Father Calum also met his son in the final and beat him for maybe the last time by the margin of only 2 points.

The First National Racketlon Championship in India was conducted on 27th & 28th Feb. Players from 12 different states of India participated. There was a huge gathering at the venue. Most of them were eager to know how Racketlon game is played. Funny thing is most of them know that individual can play in any one event, means their idea was participants can take part any one of the four sports. Anyway, it is just a beginning. Read this report by the General Secretary of Racketlon Federation India, Manoranjan Mishra.

The first ever combined FIR Seniors World Rankings have now been published in March, with Peter Sakovics taking the lead. No changes in Men and Women Singles where Christoph Krenn and Martina Kakosova hold their top positions. In the World Tour Race though its the Swedish Open winners in the lead: Swedishman Stefan Adamsson and Kerstin Peckl from Austria. Check out your own world ranking on www.resultreporter.com and if you want to know where your points came from click on the Full World Ranking Lists below.

Stefan Adamsson is the winner of Comparative Swedish Open 2010 after beating Christoph Krenn in the final. With Christian Wall taking bronze Sweden takes revenge for the big defeat at the World Champs. Kerstin Peckl (credit: RFA) saves Austrias honour though and takes her first title on the FIR World Tour. Men Doubles went to the surprise newcomers from Germany: Othmar Neidhart and Thorsten Deck. In Mixed Doubles new pair Anneli Andersson and Alexander Köpf took gold and in Seniors +45 it was Peter Sakovics on top of the podium once again. 420 matches with over 200 players from 20 countries. All results are now online on www.resultreporter.com

Nearly 100 entries in singles and 16 double pairs at the English Championships last weekend. Favourite Jermaine Manners took the Mens title, while newcomer Sarah Lochrie is the new Womens Champion. Best Senior (+45) was former nationalteam player David Lazarus.

FIR has taken another important step into the future, all players can now pay the annual players license for 2010 via paypal on www.resultreporter.com. “A great innovation which takes only 2 minutes”, says FIR-President Marcel Weigl very pleased. At the same time the monthly FIR World Rankings (1. Feb) are now published with one big major change: With the introduction of the new Seniors classes +50 and +60, from now on only one single Seniors ranking for all age classes will be used by FIR. Thus it is very important for all Seniors to check and enter their correct birthdate on www.resultreporter.com

Staff and teachers working at educational organisations in Hong Kong were eligible to take part in the last Championships of the old year 2009. of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where Hong Kong Racketlon president CM Chan is physical education teacher. The victory in the men elite class went to Wai-Kit Cheng, who already had international Racketlon experience.