The World Cup at the Racketlon World Championships is set to be as hot as ever, with Denmark vying to retain their title amid fierce competition from the likes of Great Britain (GB), Germany, and Austria. Let’s take a look at teams in contention and what they have to say of their chances.
Denmark
Last year, Denmark took the coveted prize with a magnificent win against GB in the final. They line up with exactly the same team this year: Morten Jaksland, Kresten Hougaard, Malte Thyregod, Jacob Steinmetz, Anders Fyrst, and Stine Jacobsen.
The biggest news from the defending champions’ camp is that it will, sadly, be Morten Jaksland’s final hurrah in racketlon.
He says, “I always love to play for a team as racket sports in general are quite an individual thing. The national team we have built up in Denmark has a phenomenal team spirit and it’s a group of people that I not only consider my teammates but also friends for life. We want to go a long way for each other.”
“That’s why even though I’m stepping down, I committed myself to play the Doubles World Championship with Kresten this year, in my hometown, and likewise the team event this year.
“As we won last year [the teams], we sat down, had a nice victory beer, and agreed that, no matter what, we come to defend our title.”
Kresten and Malte travel to Rotterdam on the back of solid seasons. For Malte, mixed gold with Anna-Klara Ahlmer in Poland and gold in a very strong mixed B in the World Doubles with racketlon debutant and fellow Dane, Alberte Espersen. For Kresten, 3rd place at the Polish open and silver in the World Doubles with Morten following a thrilling final against the Griffiths brothers, in which the Danes actually won all sports except badminton (15-21, 21-6, 18-21, 16-18).
Anders and Jacob are less regular on the tour but needless to say possess a lot of quality. Anders took home two golds from the World Doubles, over 45 mixed with Esther Dübendorfer and over 45 with Soeren Smit. Jacob, with partner Rachid Bech-Azeddine, came second in the over 45s, only losing to the winning pair and winning all other three games with double figures.
Stine Jacobsen, the woman on the team, has been injured all year and underwent surgery a few months ago. She’s only recently returned to court, but anyone who has watched her, or even more so played against her, will attest that she is a fierce competitor so the smart money probably still be on her being at her best – or at least something close to it.
Great Britain
Great Britain line up with Dan Busby, Matthew Davidson, Luke Griffiths, Jonathan Ritter, Duncan Stahl, Matilda Parslow, and Holly Ranson. Luke’s brother Leon has unfortunately had to withdraw recently due to a bad shoulder problem that has not recovered as expected.
Dan Busby no longer officially plays on the international tour, but still trains a lot and retains a great level. He has, in fact, played exactly one international racketlon match for every day of the year – that kind of experience doesn’t leave you. This year, he reached the semi-final of the 16-man elite draw at the Redbridge Open satellite tournament, only narrowly losing to teammate Matt.
Still just 21, Matt is now firmly cemented on the full international tour, having in the past 12 months picked up mixed elite titles in La Santa and the French Open, with teammate Holly and France’s Pauline Cave respectively, and recently the Irish Open. The other men on the team are reigning World Champs Singles title holder Luke Griffiths, FIR president and GB Stahlwart Duncan, and “wildcard” as Luke says and relative newcomer Jonathan Ritter, who started playing in the UK C grade a few years ago and has quickly moved up to A grade classes.
Matilda Parslow is now a household fixture for the GB team, having represented the 2nds three times and 1sts once before, always an excellent squash player but ever-improving in the other sports and extremely solid. The other female player is Holly Ranson, with her first appearance in an open age team after two in juniors – straight in for the 1sts at just 16 years of age! (And with a December birthday, five months younger even than football wonderkid Lamine Yamal.)
Luke Griffiths, who took a clean sweep of golds in Denmark with the men’s, mixed, and singles, is out for “revenge” for the previous two World Cups.
“Our biggest contenders are always the big countries like Denmark and Germany,” he explains. “Obviously Denmark beat us in the final last year, which was a tough one to take. So hopefully we can try to get some revenge this year.”
“And Germany, the holders from two years ago, took our crown. It would be nice to get a bit of revenge there too.
“And then there are a few dark horses. Austria have got a very young team. So they might not show any fear on the big stage. Then the Swedish team, and the Swiss team.
“All very tough. It will be good fun. It will be tough. But with our team, we definitely have a shot. I’m excited. Can’t wait for it now!”
Germany
That German team brings a wealth of experience in Amke Fischer, Natalie Vogel, Joerg Kanonenberg, Thorsten Lentfer, Max Oldehaver, Cornelius Radermacher, Simon Vaclahovsky, and Christian Wiessner. Together, they have played over 1,300 international racketlon matches in the last decade, evenly spread among them.
All of the team are playing in the elite singles, as well as, in the men’s, fellow countrymen Bastian Böhm, Patrick Oettl, and Paul Sach, making over a quarter (9 of 32) of the men’s elite draw German.
Simon Vaclahovsky, “As we are all living in different cities we do not really have a special team preparation. But our individual preparations are all going well and we feel prepared.”
“We know there are many strong teams but we consider ourselves as one of them and we clearly aim for the title. Our strongest opponents are obviously Denmark as the defending champion and then also Great Britain, France and Sweden.”
France
France’s first team is affected by the Paris Olympics, happening at the same time (not that many of us sports fanatics need reminding of that…). This means Myriam Enmer, Flore Allègre, Rémi Piau, and Anthony Duthuillé are not playing.
But world no. 9 Mandrin Mouchet says that, despite the absence, the team’s ambition is still for another medal; to defend their 3rd place from last year.
Key to this will be world no.1 Sylvain Ternon, recent winner of the elite categories in Switzerland and the IWT Eurogames 2024 LGBTIQ+. Also vital will be Pauline Cavé, who burst onto the racketlon scene only last year and has been a revelation. She bagged silver in the World Doubles B and went one better in the Women’s B at last year’s World Champs, winning all but one match by 20 points or more. Since, she has added an impressive seven titles (and three silvers), to take her to 5 in the world.
She is joined in the team by her brother Thomas, regular Damien Andre, and talented youngster Lucas Steyer, ranked 33 in the world and ready to step up from junior categories, where he has been very successful, to the senior team.
Mandrin explains the players have all had great seasons, particularly Sylvain and Pauline, and they met for a preparation camp on July 22.
He adds, “The format will be interesting; we are curious to see the impact of the [earlier] individual championship on the team matches this year. Physical and emotional management will be important.”
