Daily Summary – Saturday, 22 July

The fistball tournament at The World Games started with surprises. While defending champion German is only ranked fourth, Austria and Brazil are leading in the interim standings with two victories each. The first day of the competition was overshadowed by a serious shoulder (i.e. acromioclavicular joint) injury of Germany’s star player Patrick Thomas.

Germany – Argentina 3:0 (11:01, 11:06, 11:08)
The opening game of the fistball tournament at The World Games was just in its early stages when the spectators in the Olawka stadium witnessed an accident with consequences. Defending an Argentinian attack, Germany’s Steve Schmutzler and Patrick Thomas crashed into each other. Thomas, two-time world champion from Pfungstadt, was brought to the hospital where doctors confirmed a serious shoulder, i.e. acromioclavicular joint, injury. He will thus not be able to play in the subsequent games of the tournament – a heavy blow for the German team.
Nevertheless, the team of national coach Olaf Neuenfeld won the match against Argentina without losing a set.

Switzerland – Brazil 2:3 (11:06, 07:11, 11:09, 08:11, 11:13)
The most spectacular encounter happened in the second match of the day, between Switzerland and Brazil. Reigning vice World Champion Switzerland took the first set, and the strongly playing Brazilians equalized in set two. The match continued at world-class level until the fifth set where the Seleção had the upper hand with 13:11.

Austria – Chile 3:2 (08:11, 09:11, 11:09, 11:08, 11:05)
In the match between Austria and Chile, the spectators in the Olawka stadium almost witnessed the second South American victory of the day where the strong Chilean team controlled the game until three quarters of set three. On his birthday, Austria’s captain Jean Andrioli played below his standard and was substituted at 0:2. The Chilean team played a sensational match and already led 9:7 in the third set when the young Austrian team bounced back and secured a 3:2 victory.

Brazil – Argentina 3:1 (11:07, 07:11, 11:08, 11:05)
The Seleção underlined its title ambitions also in its second match and won its encounter with neighboring country Argentina with 3:1. While the Argentinian squad equalized to 1:1, Brazil never lost control of the game and drove home a clear victory. The Brazilians are hence ranked second after the first day of the tournament.

Germany – Austria 1:3 (08:11, 11:09, 08:11, 06:11)
The German team still had to digest the loss of attacker Patrick Thomas due to his serious injury suffered in the opening game. In addition to this, the Austrian team was euphoric from its earlier victory over Chile. The game was open until 1:1 in sets when the Austrians around the young attackers Gustav Gürtler and Martin Pühringer took control and drove home a 3:1 victory. With their first win over Germany in a major tournament since the European Championship in 2012, the Austrian squad is leading in the interim standings after the first day. Defending champion Germany is currently only on the fourth place.

Switzerland – Chile 3:0 (11:04, 11:03, 11:08)
The Swiss national team celebrated its first win in the tournament with a success over Chile. In the first two sets, the Chilean squad barely stood a chance. While the South Americans came better into the game in the third set and fought hard, they eventually lost 0:3 in sets.

In the opening match of The World Games Fistball Tournament between Germany and Argentina fistball superstar Patrick Thomas was injured in a collision with his teammate Steve Schmutzler at the beginning of the 2 set.
After an investigation at the hospital in Breslau, it is noted that Patrick Thomas has suffered a acromioclavicular joint injury and is going to return home tomorrow.
Team Germany loses with the 25-Year-old two time World and European Champion and World Games Winner 2013 the top player of the team.

Dr. Giana Hexsel, Chair of the IFA Medical and Anti-Doping Commission present in Wroclaw:
The acromioclavicular joint – not the same as the shoulder corner – is the fixed connection between the outer collarbone (Clavicula) and the scapula. Several bands hold the joint in position. His superficial position makes it vulnerable to injuries.
In the case of a shoulder corner, the ligaments are stretched or torn, which stabilize the shoulder joints and stick together. Often this happens in a crash or collision.
IFA regret about his “lesion” and wants to wish all the best for the recovery process.

Daily Summary – Friday, 21 July

The 10th World Games 2017 in Wroclaw are off to a great start: an impressive opening ceremony was held on the evening of Thursday, July 20 in the Mijewski soccer stadium. Following a training day on Friday, the six best men’s national teams are opening the fistball tournament on Saturday with the group matches.

The highlights of the ceremony included the parade of athletes, the opening by IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach, as well as show and music acts. Among the flag bearers were also two fistball players: Juliano Fontoura for Brazil, and Raphael Schlattinger for Switzerland. “The opening was an unforgettable experience”, reported Nick Trinemeier from the German fistball team.

On the following day, the six participating teams in the fistball tournament had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the venue at Olawka stadium. In particular the Brazilian team appeared to be highly motivated. Following a brief training match with the Chilean team, Brazil’s Dao Schmidt spoke with Alwin Oberkersch in “Fistball Inside”, “We have a young team this year, we will surely win the gold medal.”

The first litmus test awaits the Brazilian team in the second game on Saturday with vice World Champion Switzerland. Germany faces Argentina in the opening match, and Austria and Chile will start as third pair into the tournament. In total, six matches will be played on the first day.

“Fistball Inside” – Ep. 02

Fistball Inside – Ep. 03

Ten times German champion in a row, Champions Cup winner, World Cup winner – German side TSV Pfungstadt is currently the most successful team in men’s fistball. It hence comes as no surprise that many players from Pfungstadt have made it to the team that will be representing Germany at the upcoming World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, where the fistball tournament will be played from July 22 – 25. Besides Oliver Späth and  two pairs of brothers have qualified for the German squad – Sebastian and Patrick Thomas, and, Ajith and Andrew Fernando.
The two Fernando brothers have gained reputation for their spectacular defense work, showing “flying” stunts. Now the “Fernando Flying Circus” is ready to take off again in Wroclaw.

It all started at the TSG Tiefenthal. The Fernando brothers lived only two kilometers away from the team’s grounds, where Ajith started playing fistball, and later brought Andrew along. “The coach asked Ajith one day if his younger brother would like to play fistball, too”, remembers Andrew. Shortly after, Andrew came along for his first training, and was immediately fascinated by fistball, in particular the sport’s athletic and dynamic. “I found it incredibly fascinating when a defender had to dive for a ball”, adds Andrew, who is now 27.
With Tiefenthal, the Fernando brothers participated in their first German youth championships. Then, Ajith moved to Pfungstadt for work. “One could sense at the time that Pfungstadt will be a team of the future”, says Andrew, who joined TSV Pfungstadt shortly after his brother – due to a coincidence: Ajith had forgotten his mobile phone at his younger brother’s place. Thus, Andrew picked up the phone when Ajith’s coach in Pfungstadt – Dieter Thomas – called. In the following conversation, Thomas “asked me if I would like to join their side. That’s how it all got started”, says Andrew.

While the change of sides meant that he also had to step down into the second league, he now was playing again together with his brother Ajith. “My brother and I have now played together in the same team for about ten years. Only very rarely does one wish this is not the case”, says Andrew.
They have played together in great fistball events. “There are so many impressive events in fistball. Each championship is great. But if I had to choose the most impressive experience, I would pick our participation at the World Cup in Namibia – despite losing the decisive set. The whole trip, with the following vacation, was a particularly impressive experience”, states Andrew.
Since 2016, Ajith and Andrew are also playing together for the German national team. In Grieskirchen, Austria, both Fernando’s were members of the winning squad. And now they are prepared for their next event, says Andrew. “We want to win at the World Games! We will give our very best for this”.

Besides the current national team players Patrick and Sebastian Thomas, and earlier Niels and Jan Pannewig, Ajith and Andrew Fernando are the third pair of brothers that is playing together in the German national fistball team at a global event.

Pictures: Rouven Schönwandt