IFA President Jörn Verleger is fulfilling a dream on Sunday by competing in the Challenge long-distance triathlon in Roth for the first time. He started training late due to a back injury. His motivation comes not least from special memories of the past.

IFA President Jörn Verleger will fulfill a dream on Sunday when he competes in the long-distance Challenge triathlon in Roth for the first time. He started training late due to a back injury. His motivation comes not least from special memories from the past. The newspapers Nürnberger Nachrichten reported on his trip: “Triathlon instead of Fistball: IFA President Jörn Verleger competes in the Roth Challenge“ (https://www.nn.de/region/roth/triathlon-statt-faustball-ifa-weltprasident-jorn-verleger-tritt-beim-rother-challenge-an-1.14731117) and the Münchner Merkur ”Fistball boss on new paths” (https://www.merkur.de/sport/lokalsport/muenchen-lk/faustball-boss-auf-neuen-wegen-93800192.html)

Soccer World Cup winner André Schürrle was supposed to make his long-distance debut at Challenge Roth this year. However, the world champion’s last-minute cancellation left many fans disappointed. But numerous other athletes from different sports will be taking to the starting line in Roth, including IFA President Jörn Verleger (53).

From the spectator stands to the track

Verleger has been following the triathlon in Roth for decades. “I was there in 1996 when Lothar Leder made his legendary finish, becoming the first person to break the eight-hour mark, and I’ve watched the last runners cross the finish line many times over the years,” recalls Verleger.

Time and again, he told himself during the triathlon night that he would “run across the finish line as a competitor one day.” Now, nearly 30 years later, the time has come.

Back problems and late preparation

Training was supposed to start in January, but back problems delayed the start until April. After eight weeks of physical therapy, Verleger traveled through Japan for three weeks in March, still not completely pain-free. The decision was made on the flight back: now or never.

Immediately after landing, he headed to Saxony-Anhalt to pick up a training bike from a triathlete friend. “Until then, I didn’t have a proper bike, nor had I ever done any road bike training,” says Verleger. Today, he is pain-free and convinced that “exercise is the best medicine.”

Training between the Isar Valley and Solarer Berg

In May, Verleger completed a full lap of the original route for the first time. At the beginning of the year, his idea was still met with ridicule among his friends. Today, the team, which calls itself “Rennschnecken” (racing snails), has its own logo on freshly printed shirts, the race schedule is set, and friends are scheduled to provide support along the route.

“If everything goes well, it will take us around twelve hours – maybe a little faster, but the main goal is to arrive at the Home of Triathlon healthy and together,” says Verleger, summarizing the team’s shared motivation.

Listen also to his mini podcast series entitled “Challenge Accepted – My Relay Triathlon Diary for the Roth 2025 project” on https://open.spotify.com/show/1XoMCZThdSrfOBuKH6kUmW  with four episodes about the journey to Roth.

The countdown is on: in just five weeks, the World Games 2025 will officially begin in Chengdu, China. Among the sports featured are the fistball competitions, scheduled to take place from August 9 to 13 in the heart of the city’s scenic Tianfu Park. With less than a month to go, preparations by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) have reached the final stretch — and a key milestone was marked last week with a final venue inspection by International Fistball Association (IFA) Sports Director and Technical Delegate, Gastao Englert.

Englert visited the newly built fistball venue and met with various members of the Chinese organizing team to review all aspects of the tournament setup. The venue, which features specially adapted natural grass courts for both match play and warm-ups, is nearly complete. “Both the match and the practice/warm-up fields are in good condition and could be used today,” Englert noted. “We are now fine-tuning details such as grass density and bounce quality, but overall, we are in excellent shape.”

One of the event’s defining features will be its setting: the fistball matches will take place in the middle of a public park, offering spectators and passersby an opportunity to witness world-class sport in an open and accessible environment. With eight teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions – more than ever before – the sport is gaining unprecedented visibility at the World Games.

The venue will also include athlete and media zones, as well as individual team tents — highlighting the LOC’s commitment to both professionalism and comfort. As part of the local integration effort, a group of PE teachers from Chengdu, trained through a combination of webinars and hands-on sessions, will serve as line referees and recording clerks. A practical training session was recently held directly on-site, following earlier online instruction.

This engagement reflects a broader ambition: using the World Games as a launchpad for fistball development in China. According to Englert, the groundwork being laid today could soon lead to the formation of Chinese national youth teams — with the goal of fielding boys’ and girls’ squads at the 2026 U18 World Championship in Switzerland.

Interview with Gastão Englert

Last week, you visited Tianfu Park in Chengdu once again to do a final check of the newly constructed fistball courts. What is your impression of the current state of preparations one month before the start of the World Games?
My impression is the best possible. It has been a very positive surprise to see how professional, results-oriented, and available the Chinese team is — and most importantly, how willing they are to do everything necessary to solve any issue that arises. Both the match and the practice/warm-up fields are in good condition and could be used today. We are now working on the final details regarding the grass and bounce rebound, which are also in a good stage. Beyond the fields, the overall structure is impressive and already 95% complete. This includes a private tent for each team, as well as dedicated areas for athletes and media.

The fistball competitions will take place on specially adapted natural grass fields in the middle of a public park. What kind of atmosphere can teams expect?
The city of Chengdu is inclusive, democratic, and focused on community and well-being. Hosting the fistball event in the middle of a public park brings our sport closer to the local people, offering great visibility, atmosphere, and engagement. Often, venues are located far from the public eye — but this time, the Chinese LOC has chosen a truly special and integrated location.

How important are the fistball competitions in Chengdu for the international development of fistball—and what are your expectations for the 2025 World Games in terms of sports and organization?
It is always a special opportunity when we play in a new fistball country. It’s a chance to develop new members and create new fistball teams, players and fans. This time, the experience is even more meaningful. Since last year, we’ve been working closely with physical education teachers from Chengdu, who will serve as line referees and recording clerks during the competition. To prepare them, we organized a webinar and an on-site training session. In the future, these teachers could become the coaches and mentors of the next generation of fistball players in China. In this direction we already have some practical sessions with local players. Our goal is to have Chinese teams—both women’s and men’s—compete in next year’s U18 World Championship in Switzerland.

Fistball and The World Games have been a great combination for four decades. At just the second edition of the multi-sport event, a men’s fistball tournament was held for the first time in London in 1985. Four nations competed, and Germany claimed the inaugural title. Udo Mehle, a striker for TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, made history as part of the winning team.

Rain. That’s the first thing Udo Mehle remembers when thinking back to the 1985 World Games in August. It was the first time fistball players could present their sport on the stage of this international multi-sport event for non-Olympic disciplines—and they did so under extremely poor weather conditions. “It rained almost continuously during the entire fistball competition,” he recalls. But despite the uncooperative weather, many other moments stayed with Mehle, making those days in London truly special.

Four Teams in London

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Brazil were the four competing nations. South West Africa (Namibia) had also registered but was denied entry due to political tensions in southern Africa. The tournament format included a round-robin with home and away matches over two days to determine the semifinal pairings. The German team entered the tournament highly motivated—not only to win the first-ever World Games title but also to redeem themselves after losing the European Championship to Austria a year earlier. “After winning the World Championship in 1982 in Hanover, there had been some changes in the squad that weren’t fully settled yet,” Mehle recalls.

During that time, Mehle earned his place in the national team—something he had never dreamed of as a youth player. He started playing at age eight in Cologne and continued until age 17. “Then the team fell apart,” Mehle explains. He transferred to Leverkusen, a Bundesliga club, where the demands were suddenly much higher. “With my poor technique, I was often used as a bad example during training drills,” he laughs. But the young striker didn’t let that stop him. He worked hard and had a mentor in Udo Cymera. “Without him, I probably never would have made the national team,” Mehle admits.

Strong Performances in the Group Stage and Semis

In 1985, Mehle and his teammates had a golden opportunity to take part in The World Games. “It was definitely something special—something everyone wanted to be part of,” says the former national player. The matches were held at Barnet Copthall Stadium, alongside the tug-of-war competition. While the European teams fielded their best squads, Brazil sent a promising but inexperienced team that struggled against seasoned opponents. Mehle played right front in the matches, alongside Germany’s all-time most-capped player Dieter Thomas. “My job was to chase down short balls and be ready to step in for Dieter on the attack—sometimes even after 28 minutes without hitting a single ball.”

Germany topped the group after both legs, ahead of Austria on points, and cruised past Brazil in the semifinal (39:23). “The Brazilians arrived with sponsor logos on their jerseys, but that wasn’t allowed under the World Games rules, so they had to turn their shirts inside out,” Mehle remembers.

Heavy Rain on Final Day

That wasn’t the only odd story. The tug-of-war athletes also made a mark—literally. “They held their finals right next to our field and dug their heels so deep into the turf they reached the drainage system. It looked more like a plowed field than a lawn,” laughs Mehle. The tough conditions also affected the fistball tournament. The third-place match between Switzerland and Brazil was canceled due to heavy rain, and both teams were awarded bronze medals. The final between Germany and Austria went ahead, however. It was played over two 15-minute halves, with Germany pulling away after a tight first half (17:14) to secure victory (37:29).

Even though there was no athletes’ village, for the German team, it still felt a bit like being at the Olympic Games. “Our matches were held in the middle of the overall World Games schedule, so we didn’t take part in the opening or closing ceremonies,” says Mehle. There was also no time to watch other sports. “Still, it had a special atmosphere, a special vibe—and part of that was thanks to the great team spirit we had.”

The 1985 World Games in London would not be Mehle’s only appearance. He also made the squad for the 1989 edition in Karlsruhe, where Germany defended the title in front of 5,000 fans. Later, he served as an international referee at the 1997 Games in Lahti (Finland) and in 2009 (Taiwan), and he attended the 2005 Games in Duisburg as a spectator.

Final Standings – World Games 1985:

1. Germany

2. Austria

3. Switzerland & Brazil (shared bronze)

Original text: Faustball Deutschland at the 2022 World Games (Author: Sönke Spille)

The groups have been drawn for the 2025 World Tour Finals for men and women, the world championship for club teams. The top club fistball teams will compete in July at the Volksbank Stadium in Vöcklabruck. Preparations for the event are in full swing.

The preliminary round groups for the IFA Fistball World Tour Finals 2025 in Mannheim have been decided: The International Fistball Association has determined the group stage for the club world cup. Based on established guidelines, the Sports Commission drew the preliminary round groups, which will be played on Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25, at the Volksbank Stadium in Vöcklabruck. And they promise exciting matches for both the women and the men.

Men: Vöcklabruck aims to thrill home crowd

The Union Tigers Vöcklabruck are the team to beat in the men’s competition. After their first triumph as the world’s best club team last year, the hosts are now looking to defend their title. In the “David Lorenz” preliminary round group, they will face Clube Mercês (Brazil), Faustball Wigoltingen (Switzerland), and the South Jersey Fistball Club (USA). The preliminary round group “Michael Feichtenschlager” is likely to be extremely balanced. SG Novo Hamburgo (Brazil), winner of the 2024 World Tour and bronze medalist from last year, will face reigning European Cup winner FBC LINZ AG Urfahr (Austria), TV Vaihingen/Enz (Germany), and DSG UKJ Froschberg (Austria).

Women: Defending champions TSV Dennach face strong competition

In the women’s competition, defending champions TSV Dennach (Germany) will face Faustball Kreuzlingen (Switzerland), TSV Calw (Germany) and Clube Duque de Caxias (Brazil) in the preliminary round group named after Franz Bakan. The “Harald Bayer” group is led by last year’s finalists TV Jahn Schneverdingen (Germany) and completed by SOGIPA/Cargo Way (Brazil), SVD Diepoldsau-Schmitter and FG Elgg-Ettenhausen (both Switzerland).

All four preliminary round groups are named after Vöcklabrucker fistball personalities. They are a small tribute to four attackers who shaped the history of the fistball club in their generation.

Joint final day on Sunday

The top fistball teams will be guests in Vöcklabruck for four days, from July 24 to 27. In the preliminary round matches on Thursday and Friday, the two best teams from each group will advance to the semifinals of the World Tour Finals. These will start on Saturday, July 26, at 2 p.m. The third- and fourth-placed teams will compete in the semifinals of the President’s Cup to determine the teams that will play for 5th and 7th place. The medal matches will begin on Sunday, July 27, at 12 noon. The two finals are scheduled for 3 p.m. (women) and 4:30 p.m. (men). “We are looking forward to a tournament with many exciting matches – the participating teams definitely promise a high-class event,” says Gastão Englert, Chairman of the IFA Sports Commission.

“We can look forward to perfect conditions in Vöcklabruck,” says Sönke Spille, IFA Head of Events: ”The infrastructure at the Volbankstadion provides optimal conditions. The organizing team already has extensive experience in hosting national and international events. We can expect a great event both on and off the field.”

Host Vöcklabruck: Organizational details being finalized

For the first time, Union Tigers Vöcklabruck will host the world’s best club teams. “Preparations for the World Tour Final in July are in full swing,” says Stefan Huemer, head of the organizing committee: “At the moment, we are mainly busy with personnel planning, from the transport service to the ball boys and girls to the catering team.” The essential framework conditions are running according to plan – a large group of volunteers has been recruited for the four days of the event as well as for the days leading up to it (set-up, welcoming the overseas teams) and afterwards (breakdown).

The website will also go live shortly, including ticket sales. “The teams can expect a great, friendly fistball atmosphere in Vöcklabruck,” emphasizes Huemer: “The athletes will want for nothing!” In addition to top-class fistball, fans can look forward to excellent catering. A wine and cocktail lounge will open on Friday and Saturday at the legendary “@Toni’s,” and the Players Party will take place on the final day. “We are also working on an additional program for the overseas teams,” reveals Huemer: “The area around Vöcklabruck offers a particularly varied landscape and beautiful nature with its lakes and foothills of the Alps.”