New world champions were crowned as it was finals day for the senior categories. The first champion of the day was Steen Hesselbjerg who won the +70 category by defeating Graham Cain +5 (12-21 21-12 11-21 21-6). Rayson took the bronze medal against Räisänen winning it +2 (20-22 21-6 15-21 14-19). Lucie Hlavacova took the title in the women’s seniors +40, as she was victorious in all her group matches. Kirsten Kaptein finished second and Alice Flatman finished third. The seniors +50 was won by Mathias Fagerström who won in a thriller match by +2 (24-22 21-2 7-21 15-20) against Nándori (he then had to play and win the gummi-arm playoff in the seniors +45 team). Jan Port finished third, beating Zeuner.
Seniors +70 | Women’s +40 | Seniors +50
Shelley takes a fifth over 50 title in an historic win
Jo Shelley won the over 50 for the fifth time, which is an incredible achievement and something that no one has done before in that age category. She went undefeated in her group, sealing her title against fellow Brit Ball +24 (21-18 21-13 21-8). Laurence Bois from France finished second, a great achievement in her first World Championships, after making her debut in Paris earlier this year. Sarah Ball finished third. Christian Schaefer just won his first +40 title, beating Mohammed Tarik Koubaa in a closely contested final by +13 (19-21 21-11 21-18 11-9). Nikola Mikac beat Keith Lesser for third place, taking the match +18 (20-22 21-16 21-11 9-4). The seniors +55 title went to fifth seed Thomas Knaack, who beat Mikael Jonsson in the final with a score of +6 (21-19 21-8 9-21 19-16). Manfred Grab took the bronze medal.
Women +50 | Seniors +40 | Seniors +55
Jermaine Manners successfully defends his +45 title
Jermaine Manners successfully defended his +45 title, beating top seed Marcel Weigl in the final. Table tennis went Weigl’s way, but Manners took badminton and squash 21-9 21-11, which left him with only two points in tennis. He took the match by +15 (21-23 21-9 21-11 2-7). Frenchman Laurent Cocriamont won the battle for the bronze medal, beating Torsten Kuntz. Anita Voelkel won the women’s +45 title, winning all her group matches. She secured her win on Friday by defeating Titti Wigren +21 (10-21 21-8 21-10 9-1). USA’s Katrin Maldre finished second and Sandra Ettenauer finished third. It was another title for Sweden as Magnus Edby took the seniors +60 title. He defeated Richard Hobzik +8 (19-21 17-21 21-17 21-11). Avi Shemri beat Rakesh Gupta for the bronze medal playoff. The seniors +65 title went to Jesper Schou Nielsen who beat Lubomir Budinsky in the final by just one point. The score was +1 (21-18 15-21 8-21 22-5). Julian Clapp finished third.
Seniors +45 | Women’s +45 | Seniors +60 | Seniors +65
A big congratulations to all the senior world champions and a massive well done to all players, one of the main reasons Racketlon is a great sport for all.
Sanne Veldkamp / FIR Media officer
