From 3rd to 6th June, 25 different sports associations in Austria will hold their Austrian Championships as part of the Sport Austria Finals in Graz. After recognition of racketlon as a sport in 2020, the Racketlon Federation Austria will be among them for the first time.
The Austrian Racketlon Championships will kick off the post-coronavirus season of national events in Austria for elite players. Alongside the National Championships, there will also be a 1st Bundesliga held, with around 140 players eligible to play.
All junior and elite singles matches will be live-streamed as well as the finals of the other draws.
What is the Sport Austria Finals?
About 25 associations will host their state and national championships from 3rd to 6th June in Graz as a top-class sports event with a strict coronavirus prevention concept as part of the first-time Sport Austria Finals.
There will be about 3,500 athletes in total and the event will be the first major sporting event in Austria since the beginning of the pandemic.
Racketlon’s World No.1 Christine Seehofer attended the press conference for the Sport Austria Finals at the Haus des Sport in Vienna on Wednesday 12th May. Seehofer, on live tv, said “I am delighted that the Sport Austria Finals can take place. I am very happy that Racketlon is a recognised sport of Sport Austria and that Racketlon can be here in Graz. I’m sure it’s going to be a great event”.
The full press conference is available to watch here.
Watch the Austrian Championships on Live Stream
The Racketlon Federation Austria will host all Austrian Youth and Elite Class Championships, as well as the Bundesliga at the Racket Sport Center Graz. Spectators are allowed in some sports but not Racketlon.
RFA General Secretary Michael Steiner explained: “We want to handle the competitions as safely as possible for all participants. The legal requirement of strict separation of spectators and athletes would not have been feasible, so we will not allow spectators. However, we are looking for live streams of the most important competitions to get families and fans involved.”
Austrian Championships Schedule
Thursday June 3: Juniors and Elite Qualification
- 09:00 – Youth Singles (U11, U13, U16, U21)
- 10:00 – Men’s Singles Qualification (Max. 64 players, 4 qualifiers)
- 14:00 – Youth Doubles
- 15:00 – Women’s Singles Qualification (Max. 16 players, 2 qualifiers)
Friday June 4: Doubles Day
- 09:00 – Men’s Doubles (Max. 16 pairs)
- 10:00 – Women’s Doubles (Max. 16 pairs)
- 10:30 – Youth Bundesliga (U13, U16)
- 15:00 – Mixed Doubles (Max. 16 pairs)
Saturday June 5: Teams Day
- 09:00 – Bundesliga Prelimanary Round (8 Teams)
- 12:00 – Bundesliga Main Competition (4 Teams)
Sunday June 6: Singles Day
- 09:00 – Men’s Singles (Max. 16 players, including 4 qualifiers)
- 10:00 – Women’s Singles (Max. 16 players, including 2 qualifiers)
For more information about the Austrian Championships and updates on how to watch, head to the RFA’s website or follow the RFA on Facebook.
Sam Barker / FIR Media Officer
Image Credit / RFA
