All posts by Media Team

Fistball in Hong Kong – An insight into the association’s work

To promote the sport of fistball in a young association as quickly as possible: That should be the goal of many new fistball associations around the world. It is often not easy to compete against established sports in the country. A great deal of voluntary commitment, dedication and perseverance are required. This is also the case for the Fistball Association of Hong Kong China Ltd. The association was founded almost exactly five years ago. Chairman Cheng Tsz-man reports on the latest projects in 2023 – and looks ahead to 2024.

Hello everyone, I am Ewing from Hong Kong, China, as the chairperson of the Hong Kong Faustball Association. Our association was established on January 18, 2019. We are very thankful to Roger, Mario, and Tommy for their significant efforts in supporting our association in various ways.

Looking ahead to 2023, our primary goal is to promote this healthy sport to the public. We have been actively introducing Faustball to primary schools, secondary schools, and universities.

Primary School Championship 2023

This championship marks the first school competition of its kind in Hong Kong, China. We are delighted to welcome eleven teams from six primary schools joining the Faustball Primary School Championship (2023). We believe this event is not just about competition, but also about fostering strong friendships and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Hong Kong Shue Yan University

We extend our gratitude to the students of Hong Kong Shue Yan University for their interest in Faustball. We organized a Faustball demonstration day and a simple competition. Additionally, the Shue Yan University Faustball Championship is scheduled for April 2024.

Society Promotion

At the end of 2023, the Faustball Association organized a Multi-sports Championship. The youth team played a significant role in the planning and execution of the event, which was a great success.

Plans for 2024

I highly appreciate the involvement of the youth in the committee team, as they understand the needs of the youth and bring creative ideas to the table. Establish a new Hong Kong Faustball representative team.

Encourage youth members to design games that are beneficial for Faustball training or related activities. If you follow our Facebook page, you will notice two new events under  Faustball Hong Kong, It called Muscle ball and LuLu ball, both are outdoor games. It’s fantastic that you’re considering integrating these games as part of Faustball training. Such an integration could offer a fresh dimension to Faustball training and further enrich the overall experience for the players. Expanding the scope of Faustball to include these games could attract more participants and enthusiasts, ultimately contributing to the growth and popularity of Faustball sport.

Fistball all over the world – World Fistball Day 2024

On January 30, the International Fistball Association (IFA) celebrates its birthday. It is now 64 years since the International Fistball Association was founded in 1960. For several years now, World Fistball Day has been celebrated to mark the anniversary – and in 2024 it will be bigger than ever before. In the days leading up to January 30, we will be taking a look at the sport of fistball, projects around the world and various activities to get involved in.

The festivities will conclude on January 30 with the IFA Awards ceremony. The fistball nations around the world will be presented here over the next few days.

Asia

Fistball is spreading constantly in Asia. Numerous new nations have taken up the sport of fistball in recent years. Japan has already participated in 8 world championships (6x men, 2x women), but Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, India and Nepal have also taken part in international events in the past.

And: In 2025, the fistball world will be looking to Asia. The World Games will take place in Chengdu (China) in August, and fistball will be represented in the men’s and women’s competitions.

Countries: Afghanistan, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei

America

The fistball world will meet twice this year in South America. In the autumn, two Fistball World Championships will take place in Chile (U18) and Argentina (women). Fistball has been played in America for many decades. The most successful nation is Brazil (2x world champion men, 1x world champion women, 3x world champion male U18), but Chile, Argentina, the USA and Colombia have also taken part in international competitions in recent years.

The first PAFA Championships were held in the United States in 2015, the last edition was in Novo Hamburgo in 2022. Here, Brazil won the men’s and women’s competitions.

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela

Europe

On no other continent is fistball as widespread as in Europe: European nations generally provide the most teams at international events. Germany is the record world champion for men, women and the two U18 world championships. Austria and Switzerland are also among the top nations. However, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Belgium and Poland also regularly take part in international competitions.

Fistball originated in Italy, and the International Fistball Association was founded in Europe in 1960. The very first Fistball World Championship took place in Austria in 1968.

Countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, North Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine

Africa

For decades, fistball in Africa was only played in Namibia, which took part in its first Fistball World Championship in Germany in 1972. Fistball is now played in schools in many African countries, but only Namibia has taken part in international competitions in recent years.

The fistball world has also been a guest in Africa. Fistball World Championships were held in Namibia in 1995 (men) and 2009 (U18), and the Fistball World Cup was held 6 times (5x Namibia, 1x South Africa) in Africa.

Countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda

Oceania

Within a very short space of time, a fistball community has developed in Oceania. Since Australia’s first participation in a World Championship in Argentina in 2015, there have been numerous other international participations, including the New Zealand women’s team at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham (USA). In recent years, they have also hosted the Trans-Tasman Championships, the Oceania Championships and the Asia-Pacific Championships.

Countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Independent State of Samoa

2023 – A major milestone year for the Fistball Federation of Australia

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true: fistball has been played in Australia for 11 years. What began with a crazy idea from a fistball pioneer has grown steadily over the past few years – and continues to grow. Chris Milne reports on 2023, the year in which Fistball Australia celebrated its tenth birthday, and looks ahead to 2024, which has a highlight in February.

2023 was a major milestone year for the Fistball Federation of Australia. In February 2023, we celebrated the 10 years of Australian fistball (2013 – 2023), a huge achievement given the major challenges faced by a new small sporting association.

History of Fistball Australia

Despite the long and storied history of fistball around the world, prior to 2013 there had been no recorded history of it ever being organised in Australia.

This all changed early in 2013, when good mates Rolf “Godfister” Petersen and Richard “Buckfist” Williams – after some detailed and enthusiastic research into the sport – reached out to the IFA for help in setting up the sport in Australia… and in February 2013, the Fistball Federation of Australia (FiFA) was officially born.

The first officially documented game of fistball occurred on the 7th of February, 2013, when an enthusiastic group of men and women gathered at a park in Tullamarine, Victoria to form two teams and punch a volleyball over a rope in the hope that it resembled “fistball”.

Shortly after word of this successful fistball outing reached keen ears, official fistball teams were formed and the first ever Australian fistball tournament – aptly named Fistivus – was held at Royal Park in Parkville, Victoria on March 17, 2013. With four teams competing, the Fistroy Lions topped the Westside Mortal Wombats in final to become the inaugural Fistivus champions.

In January 2014, the IFA sent out an official IFA trainer & representative to both further educate our keen fistballers on the skills required to compete at an international level and to officially induct FiFA in the IFA, becoming the sixth continent officially recognised as playing fistball!

As a national team, Australia competed in their first ever international tournament in April 2013 – the 1st Asian Fistball Championships in Lahore, Pakistan, and sent their first ever men’s team to the Fistball World Championships in November 2015, in Cordoba, Argentina. The first women’s national team competed for the first time in the 2016 Women’s Fistball World Championships in Curitiba, Brazil.

Since those humble beginnings, the Fistball Federation of Australia has only continued to growth from strength to strength, spreading slowly across the nation while still consistently competing at an international level.

Great Moments in 2023

We paid tribute to the milestone by counting down our Top 10 moments in Australian fistball history on social media. Ultimately the #1 moment was judged to be the arrival of the first Australian national fistball team in Lahore airport in 2014, a surreal yet iconic moment in Australian fistball history.

In July 2023, we competed in our 3rd IFA Men’s Fistball World Championship, showing great promise with some strong wins and many highlight plays, before ultimately finishing 14th. With an average age of 28 (including 5 players under the age of 25), this was an exciting development for the future of Australian fistball.

In December 2023, we hosted the first Australian National Championships, featuring competitive teams from 4 states – Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. With this tournament set to become an annual fixture with rotating hosts, we hope that fistball will continue to strengthen outside of Victoria and grow into a truly national sport.

Over the February 17th-18th weekend this year, we will be sending an Australian men’s national team to Christchurch to compete in the Trans-Tasman Fistball Championships against New Zealand.

We will be sending a team consisting of an unprecedented three Australian state sides represented in the final squad – 4 from Victoria, 3 from New South Wales and 3 from Western Australia. Of the 10 players selected, 4 will be making their Australian national team debut on the international fistball stage after impressing at the National Championships., while the remaining 6 players will be returning from the 2023 World Championships team.

While Australia has played New Zealand many times since their first meeting in 2017, this will be only the third time the Trans-Tasman Fistball Championships has been held in its original format, and the first time since 2018.

The two teams will compete for the trophy by playing a series of 3 matches in a best-of-7 set format, with the matches taking place over 2 days. The winner not only gets to hold the perpetual trophy, but then also gets to eat the pavlova (a dessert with disputed origins between Australia and New Zealand!) off the engraved Pavlova Plate (see image).

The Australian men’s national team won the first two tournament series against New Zealand, winning 2-1 and 4-1 in 2017 and 2018 respectively, however the New Zealand men’s team has not lost to Australia since the last Trans-Tasman instalment (they are since 6-0 against Australia, with their most recent win at the 2023 Men’s Fistball World Championships) and will go into the 2024 series as the hot favourites.

IFA 2023 Fistball World Championship in Mannheim – Recap

The 16th IFA Fistball Men’s World Championship in Mannheim, Germany has set new standards and will go down in the history of fistball. For eight days, the 16 best nations from all continents promoted their sport. More than 30,000 spectators flocked to the Rhein-Neckar Stadium during the World Championship week and to the SAP Arena on the final weekend. In front of a record audience of 10,000 spectators, Germany celebrated its fourth consecutive World Championship title.

It was the spectacular fistball festival that athletes and fans had been eagerly waiting for months. After the preliminary rounds and quarterfinals at the Mannheim Rhein-Neckar Stadium, the final matches at the SAP Arena were the sporting and emotional highlight of this World Championship.

As the host, Germany made history with the final round being played both indoors and on natural grass at the same time – something that had not been done before. “This was a magnificent World Championship on a completely new scale. We have never experienced such an atmosphere,” said IFA President Jörn Verleger. “Setting up a natural turf ground inside an indoor sports arena was a historic premiere for fistball.” For the event, an additional mobile grandstand was erected at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium, providing seating for over a thousand more spectators. Several thousand visitors attended the six days of matches in the stadium, where the Preliminary Round received maximum attention. More than 500 volunteers were involved in making this event unforgettable for guests from all over the world. One of the highlights off the field was the School’s Day on the third day of the preliminary rounds with 2,700 children and teenagers creating a festive atmosphere. “We were thrilled to see so many young people excited about fistball in one morning,” said MWC-CEO Sönke Spille, who emphasized: “We experienced a spectacular World Championship week with many goosebump moments, starting at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium with a lot of fans and a fantastic atmosphere. I heard many people praising the atmosphere.” The final days at the SAP Arena were the climax of the World Championship week. “The Arena was unique in presenting our sport. Everyone who was there experienced two final days that will never be repeated. It was a fistball spectacle created together by the teams and fans, something that will be remembered for a long time,” said MWC-CEO Sönke Spille.

Germany impressively secures its 13th World Championship title
The new and reigning world champion is Germany, who lived up to their favorites’ role in front of their home crowd. This is the fourth consecutive title and the 13th overall for the record holders. The team led by the world’s best striker Patrick Thomas left no chance for Austria in the final, securing a clear 4-0 victory. “There is nothing greater than winning a World Championship at home,” said Thomas, who celebrated his fourth World Cup triumph, just like captain Fabian Sagstetter. “We have worked hard all year for this title. We are over the moon that we made it. It was extremely fun to play here – the atmosphere was absolutely incredible,” said Sagstetter.

Brazil wins a high-class bronze medal duel
History repeated itself. Four years ago, at the World Championship in Winterthur, Germany won the final against Austria. “Germany had a perfect day and is a well-deserved world champion,” emphasized coach Siegfried Simon, who is very proud of winning the silver medal. “My team played a fantastic tournament.” The Austrians qualified for the final after a high-caliber and exciting semifinal against Switzerland. Germany reached the final with a 3-0 victory against Brazil. At this World Cup, the “big four” once again dominated the tournament. The bronze medal match between Brazil and Switzerland was one of the best of this World Championship. Both teams engaged in a high-class battle, with the Brazilians coming out on top, securing the third place for the second time after 2019. Switzerland once again missed out on a medal.

USA wins the President’s Cup
With a strong performance throughout the tournament week, the USA team secured the title in the President’s Cup, the competition for teams ranked from nine to 16. Led by Todd Strassberger, the Americans defeated Namibia, the only African representative, 3-1. Chile celebrated its best result in World Championship history. Led by striker Alvaro Mödinger, the South Americans defeated Argentina and finished the tournament in fifth place for the first time, after having finished sixth in nine previous World Championships. Denmark made the biggest leap forward, improving from 12th place in Winterthur to the top ten in eighth place. A reward for the long-term development work of the Scandinavians, who play in the second highest league in Germany. The almost fairy-tale-like story of the Belgian team, which replaced India three days before the start of the tournament, ended with two wins in four games, securing 12th place.

 

Final Ranking:

  1. Germany
  2. Austria
  3. Brazil
  4. Switzerland
  5. Chile
  6. Argentina
  7. Italy
  8. Denmark
  9. USA
  10. Namibia
  11. New Zealand
  12. Belgium
  13. Czech Republic
  14. Australia
  15. Serbia
  16. Japan

All games are available Re-Live on fistball.tv

Fourth Consecutive World Championship Title: Germany Continues to Dominate the Fistball World

It is accomplished: The host team Germany defeats Austria in an exciting final with a score of 4:0 and is crowned world champion. The bronze medal goes to Brazil, while Switzerland finishes the World Cup in an unfortunate fourth place. Chile achieves its best result in a World Cup for a South American country with a historic victory against Argentina.

Germany wins the home World Championship at the SAP Arena.
Germany – Austria 4:0 (11:7, 11:3, 15:14, 11:7)

It is accomplished. The new and reigning world champion is Germany. Patrick Thomas, Fabian Sagstetter, and the team can defeat Austria in four sets and claim the fistball throne, just like in 2019, 2015, and 2011. The fans at the SAP Arena witness an exciting match, which, while the result appears clear, sees Austria compete well in three sets, with the third set even going into extra points. In the decisive moments, Germany proves dominant and clinches the crucial, long rallies. When Patrick Thomas converts the match point, all barriers break, and the entire SAP Arena celebrates the world champion Germany.

Olaf Neuenfeld (Head Coach of Germany): „I was more tense yesterday than today. Towards the end of the third set, when the score was 15:14, it was on a knife’s edge. If that set had gone to Austria, the whole game could have turned around. However, we kept our nerves, even though Karl Müllehner played outstandingly and made hardly any mistakes. After that, I had a good feeling. The World Championship title in Germany was still missing for me. This is the icing on the cake. But I predicted that I would stick around for another four years afterward. We have a very balanced squad, and we even had a larger roster last year, with which we won two tournaments. They elevate each other at this level. It’s a fantastic team, and our cohesion sets us apart.“

Fabian Sagstetter (Captain and Setter of Germany): “This is overwhelming, everything is so grand. We worked towards this for over a year, and it’s even more beautiful that we won this title. We defeated a strong opponent in Austria.“

Siegfried Simon (Head Coach of Austria): “Congratulations to the German team. Germany is a very deserving world champion. When you lose 0:4, then the matter is clear. But compliments to my team. They never gave up. We fought. However, every time we tried to score points, Germany had an answer. Germany got stronger as the game progressed and always had a response ready. We have a great team with a fantastic spirit. I hope that most of this team stays together to be prepared for the next tournaments.”

Karl Müllehner (Attacker of Austria): “The atmosphere out there was overwhelming. I congratulate Germany because every player on this team is extremely cool. But at some point, I also want to win this trophy. However, defeating Germany in a final, especially on their home turf, is indeed a monumental task.”

Brazil triumphs in the match for third place
Brazil – Switzerland 4:1 (10:12, 11:9, 14:12, 11:7, 14:12)

The first set in the bronze match of the Fistball World Championship is a hard-fought affair. Switzerland and Brazil engage in a high-class exchange of blows, with the Swiss winning in extended play. Subsequently, Brazil finds answers to the aggressive play of Raphael Schlattinger and Ueli Rebsamen in crucial moments. Bruno Arnold consistently serves with pressure and scores many points for his team. The fifth set becomes dramatic, with Brazil narrowly winning after several lead changes, securing the bronze medal for the South Americans.

Mateus Kuntzler (Brazil’s setter): “After the defeat against Germany, I am super happy that we won the match for third place today. The last set was very tight, and two or three rescue actions were crucial. Playing against Switzerland is always tough and emotional. We lost to them at the World Games. We are happy to finish in third place, just like four years ago. The atmosphere in the arena was absolutely insane.”

Raphael Schlattinger (Switzerland’s attacker): “Brazil was the favorite in this match. We gave it our all and showed some really great fistball. All sets were close, but we lacked that bit of luck. It’s incredibly disappointing.”

Chile turns an exciting match against Argentina and secures fifth place.
Argentina – Chile 1:3 (11:8, 12:14, 7:11, 9:11)

In the first match of the final day of the Fistball World Championship at the SAP Arena, the spectators are treated to a sporting spectacle. In the duel of the two South American teams, Chile and Argentina, the slightly favored Chileans manage to avenge their defeat from the group stage and secure fifth place. This is the best result Chile has ever achieved at a World Cup.

Alle Games are available Re-Live on fistball.tv

 

Recap Day 7 World Championship – Germany and Austria advance to the Gold Medal Match

The Fistball World Championship has moved to the SAP Arena. First, the USA wins the President’s Cup, finishing the championship in 9th place. Italy defeats Denmark and secures the 7th place in the final rankings. The eagerly awaited semi-finals then go in three sets to the favored teams of Germany and Austria. The teams from Brazil and Switzerland, who were defeated in the semi-finals, will compete for the bronze medal.

The President’s Cup of the Fistball World Championship goes to the USA
USA – Namibia 3:1 (11:7, 11:9, 10:12, 11:8)

The first match at the SAP Arena brings victory to the favored American team in the President’s Cup. The US team starts strongly, and Todd Strassberger impresses with his serves. In the third set, the USA seemed to have secured the win, but Namibia fought back and narrowly won 12:10 in extra points. After a change of ends, the USA regains control and rightfully celebrates their victory in the President’s Cup.

Italy wins the 7th place game
Italy – Denmark 3:1 (5:11, 9:11, 12:10, 6:11)

Italy didn’t have much time to recover from the disappointment of not making it to the 5th place game. Against Denmark, they needed four sets of concentration to achieve their minimal goal of securing 7th place. Denmark had difficulties establishing a stable defense, and the Italian attackers regularly scored points with short shots. Only when Italy substituted their top formation and gave playing time to young players did Denmark find their rhythm and capitalized on Italy’s weaker phase. However, with Runer, Prudenziati & Co. back on the field, the balance was quickly restored, and Italy won deservedly and convincingly with 3:1.

Germany secures a spot in the final without difficulty
Brazil – Germany 0:3 (9:11, 8:11, 7:11)

The highly anticipated semi-final electrifies the SAP Arena. Germany defeats the South American team from Brazil in three sets and secures a spot in the final of the home World Championship. Brazil managed to keep up with Germany’s level at times and made all sets competitive. However, in crucial moments, Germany’s experience and decisiveness proved too much. Brazil attempted different tactical formations to control Germany’s attacking game but never seriously threatened their success. After about 50 minutes, the fists of the German national team rose in celebration, and the emotions were evident on all players. Germany reaches the final of the Fistball World Championship for the fourth consecutive time.

Olaf Neuenfeld (Head Coach, Germany): “We have never experienced an atmosphere like this before. Today, I am more exhausted than my players. The result sounds clearer than it was. The sets were close, and they could have turned with just one or two points. Brazil is an extremely strong team. They tried everything, including tactical changes, but we showed the right reactions. Preparing for such a game is totally different. It’s so loud. When I stand next to Patrick, I can say something to him, but just five meters away, he can’t hear me anymore.”

Patrick Thomas (Main Attacker, Germany): “This is my fourth World Championship, but it’s incomparable to anything else. It’s an absolute highlight. We had to adapt a bit because the field was different from the preliminary round. The ball doesn’t bounce as high, so we had to apply pressure during the serves, but we managed it well. The atmosphere is absolutely amazing. When you come in here, you start to grin already. Flags are everywhere, people are in a party mood, and it’s just fun to play Fistball.”

Mateus Kuntzler (Setter, Brazil): “We played a good game, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Germany was stronger. There were a few balls that decided the game in favor of Germany. But to become world champions, we have to beat Germany. Now the goal is the bronze medal. Playing in such a hall is so much fun. The atmosphere was fantastic. We thought the ball would bounce a bit more.”

Austria defeats Switzerland in three sets in the second semi-final
Switzerland – Austria 0:3 (8:11, 9:11, 8:11)

The surprise was not to be found in the second semi-final either. Austria convincingly defeats Switzerland in three sets and will compete against Germany for the gold medal on Sunday. The Swiss team fought valiantly, but in the end, they couldn’t match Austria’s team cohesion. Raphael Schlattinger and Ueli Rebsamen kept the game open with powerful attacks, but in the crucial moments, Austria, led by Karl Müllehner, scored the decisive points. Switzerland will compete for the bronze medal against Brazil, while Austria will face Germany in the pursuit of the world champion title.

Oliver Lang (Head Coach, Switzerland): “Austria deservedly advances to the final. They were two or three points better in all positions, which eventually led to their set victories. Tomorrow, we will play for the bronze medal, and we want to win it. This atmosphere in the arena is unprecedented. The fans are celebrating, it’s fantastic.”

Ueli Rebsamen (Captain and Attacker, Switzerland): “Unfortunately, we made a few silly mistakes, which didn’t happen with the Austrians. That was ultimately the difference. The atmosphere in the arena is unique. As a minority sport, we probably won’t experience this again so quickly.”

Siegfried Simon (Head Coach, Austria): “It was hard work. The 3:0 result may seem clear, but the match was far from it. We are correspondingly happy to be in the final. Reaching the final and winning the title are our self-declared goals. We have been working towards that since the coaching change in October last year. It’s even more beautiful that we have come a step closer to that goal. In 2007, when I won the World Championship title in Oldenburg, the atmosphere was also very loud. Although we didn’t play in an arena, it was similar. In the last training camps, we prepared ourselves exactly for this situation.”

All games of the WC are broadcast live on fistball.tv.
Tickets: tickets.faustballwm.de

Recap Day 6 World Championship – The first rankings of the Fistball World Championship have been determined

While the semi-final teams prepare for tomorrow’s matches, the first placement decisions have been made at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium. In the early afternoon, Argentina and Chile secure their tickets for the fifth-place game, and in the evening, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and New Zealand triumph in their respective placement matches. At the same time, preparations for the grand final weekend are underway at the SAP Arena throughout the day. Tomorrow the semi-finals will determine which teams will advance to the final on Saturday.

Argentina advances to the Fifth-Place Game
Argentina – Denmark 3:0 (11:4, 11:4, 11:9)

Denmark fails to replicate their strong performance from the quarterfinal against Austria. Only in the third set can the Scandinavians keep up with the favored Argentinians, but ultimately, it’s Argentina’s Romeo Dominioni who makes the difference. Argentina wins comfortably and will play for fifth place in the World Championship on Saturday.

Chile stages a comeback in a heated match against Italy
Italy – Chile 1:3 (11:8, 9:11, 7:11, 9:11)

Armin Runer and Alváro Mödinger duke it out in an intense four set battle. Both main attackers are consistently put into play by their teams and keep the game competitive with impressive points in their serves. Despite initially leading and a strong performance by Runer, Italy cannot match the South Americans in crucial moments. Close calls and spectacular plays bring out intense emotions on both sides. Chile secures the victory with a strong finish and will face Argentina in the fifth-place game.

Serbia secures 15th place in the World Championship
Japan – Serbia 1:3 (12:10, 8:11, 1:11, 4:11)

A surprising start to the game couldn’t ultimately help Japan. The team from East Asia manages to win the first set against Serbia. However, as the match progresses, Serbia displays greater experience and routine, leading to Japan losing the next three sets decisively. With a 3:1 victory, Serbia secures the 15th position in the Fistball World Championship.

Czech Republic defeats Australia in the battle for 13th place
Australia – Czech Republic 2:3 (3:11, 9:11, 11:6, 11:8, 5:11)

In their final appearances at the Fistball World Championship, the teams from Australia and the Czech Republic aim to give the numerous spectators a fantastic performance. Both teams compete for the 13th position on the wet field at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium. In the penultimate match of the day, the Czech Republic, led by Mannheimer Daniel Schwarz, manages to secure a close victory in 3:2 sets. Both teams engage in a relentless battle throughout the full duration of five sets and celebrate together with the fans in Mannheim after the match.

New Zealand Beats Belgium and Finishes the World Championship in 11th Place.
New Zealand – Belgium 3:1 (11:5, 11:2, 9:11, 11:3)

In the last match of Thursday, New Zealand continues their impressive performances in the World Championship and convincingly secures the 11th place. The replacements from Belgium manage to keep up only in phases against New Zealand in front of many fans at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium. Only the third set goes to Belgium as New Zealand made substantial lineup changes and gave playing time to all players in the squad. Returning with their top formation in the fourth set, New Zealand comfortably takes the match 3:1 and finishes the tournament on a high note.

All games of the WC are broadcast live on fistball.tv.
Tickets: tickets.faustballwm.de

Recap Day 5 World Championship – Heading to the SAP Arena: The semifinalists are determined!

The semifinal matches of the 16th Men’s Fistball World Championship at the SAP Arena have been decided: Brazil will face Germany, while Switzerland and Austria will compete against each other in the second duel. The final for the President’s Cup and the ninth place will be contested between the USA and Namibia.

Brazil – Italy 3:0 (11:7, 11:6, 11:2)
The Italians were unable to handle the powerful game of the Brazilians on the wet ground. The attackers Gabriel Heck, Bruno Arnold, and later Rodrigo Sprandel played almost flawlessly, supported by a solid defense. For Italy, the remaining battle is for fifth place and their next match will be held against Chile on Thursday. Brazil will face Germany in the semifinals on Friday.

Switzerland – Argentina 3:0 (11:3, 11:8, 11:7)
The Swiss team achieved an almost flawless first set with their experienced attacking duo Ueli Rebsamen and Raphael Schlattinger. In the second set, the South Americans put up a fight, staying even at 8:8, but the Swiss secured the set. Argentina mainly scored through their young attacker Nahuel Vener, who made an impression with his strong service. The semifinal clash on Friday will be the classic match between Switzerland and Austria.

Austria secures a spot in the semifinals
Austria – Denmark 3:0 (11:7, 11:3, 11:9)

In the quarterfinal against the surprising team from Denmark, the Danes impressed with powerful attacks and an emotional appearance. However, Austria closed the first set with an ace at 11:7 in just nine minutes. The second set ended decisively at 11:3. In the third set, the Danes improved their game, thrilling the spectators, but they couldn’t secure a set victory.

Germany remains undefeated
Germany – Chile 3:0 (11:5, 11:7, 11:1)

Germany confidently advances to the semifinals, remaining undefeated in sets. Despite initial nervousness, Patrick Thomas especially left his mark on the game. In the first two sets, the Chileans kept pace until the middle of the set, but then Germany went ahead, showcasing their dominance in the third set. The first match point was converted to 11:1 after 50 minutes.

 

President’s Cup Matches:

Australia defeats Japan for the second time
Australia – Japan 3:0 (11:8, 11:4, 11:8)

Australia secures the second victory over Japan at this World Championship. The Japanese, who gained sympathy in Mannheim, played a strong first set but couldn’t reward themselves with a set win. The third set was balanced. Australia needed four match points to secure the victory and will play against the Czech Republic for 13th place. Japan will face Serbia for 15th place.

Czech Republic triumphs over Serbia
Czech Republic – Serbia 3:1 (9:11, 11:5, 11:3, 11:4)

The Serbians rewarded themselves with a strong start, winning the first set despite some errors, particularly in serving. However, the Czechs found their rhythm as the match progressed and confidently won the following three sets.

USA triumphs over New Zealand
USA – New Zealand 3:1 (11:7, 10:12, 11:8, 11:8)

In an exciting duel, the USA defeats New Zealand and advances to the final for the President’s Cup, the match for ninth place. Despite losing the second set, the Americans bounced back. Attacker Josh Cameron repeatedly challenged the USA’s defense. Led by veteran Todd Strassberger, the USA controlled the match to secure victory.

Namibia celebrates a clear victory
Belgium – Namibia 0:3 (5:11, 6:11, 5:11)

Namibia advances to the final for the President’s Cup. The team, led by main attacker Karl-Heinz Traut, dominates the game against Belgium. Traut’s attacking shots are too powerful and well-placed for the Belgian defense. On the other hand, Belgium’s Jorun Vanmelle struggles to find a way to challenge the African team’s defense significantly. Thus, on Thursday, Belgium will play against New Zealand for 11th place.

All games are livstreamed on fistball.tv.

Recap Day 4 World Championship – Quarterfinal Matchups Confirmed

Italy, Argentina, Denmark, and Chile complete the quarterfinal matches of the 16th Men’s Fistball World Championship. Denmark and Chile engage in tight battles against Namibia and New Zealand, while Argentina and Italy secure clear victories against the USA and Australia, respectively.
In the President’s Cup, the USA, Belgium, Namibia, and New Zealand advance to the semifinals and still have a chance to compete for the ninth-place match at SAP-Arena.

Italy Shines Against the USA Italy – USA 3:0 (12:10, 11:6, 11:5)
Italy defeats the USA convincingly, despite both teams starting the match on equal footing. After an intense first set, the USA lost some momentum, particularly in their attacking efforts. Italian attacker Armin Runer stood out, leading his team flawlessly and deservedly into the quarterfinals against Brazil. With their performance today, the USA team will give their hardest effort to win the President’s Cup.

Argentina Outshines Australia’s Attack
Argentina – Australia 3:0 (11:3, 11:4, 11:4)
As expected, Australia couldn’t match Argentina’s performance on the wet field. Argentina secured an undisputed victory, and Australia had no answer to the long and hard-hitting attacks from the Argentine side. Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, while Australia will compete against Japan.

Denmark Triumphs in a Nerve-Wracking Match Namibia
Denmark 1:3 (5:11, 9:11, 11:6, 14:15)
The battle for a spot in the quarterfinals was not for the faint-hearted, especially in the fourth set. After a strong start by Denmark, Namibia gradually found their rhythm, resulting in a closely contested match with constant lead changes from the middle of the second set. Namibia put up a great fight, but Denmark emerged as the luckier team in the end. Denmark will now face one of the favorites, Austria, in the quarterfinals, while Namibia will play against Belgium in the President’s Cup.

Chile Triumphs Over the Kiwis Chile
New Zealand 3:1 (11:5, 11:7, 12:14, 11:6)
Chilean attacker Alváro Mödinger demonstrates from the outset that his team aims to reach the quarterfinals against Germany. This strategy pays off for the first two sets. In the third set, Alváro Mödinger remains on the bench, and despite strong efforts from Andres Gruss and Eduardo Mödinger, New Zealand manages to save two match points before securing the set. In the fourth set, Chile brings Alváro Mödinger back into the game and clinches an undisputed victory.

USA Prevails Against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic – USA 1:3 (7:11, 11:7, 9:11, 10:12)
After a tough battle, the favored US team defeats the Czech Republic 3:1 in the first match of the President’s Cup. The USA started strong but faced a phase where the Czech Republic gained the upper hand. The match remained evenly contested until the USA eventually secured the victory.

Belgium Stages a Comeback Against Australia
Belgium – Australia 3:2 (7:11, 11:13, 11:7, 11:9, 13:11)
Belgium wins by only two points in a closely fought match. Australia initially dominated the rain-soaked battle, with their attacker Nila Poudal impressing with excellent serves, returns, and artistic defensive plays. As Belgium found their rhythm, Australia narrowly lost the fifth set 11:13, concluding the match in favor of Belgium.

Namibia Overpowers Japan
Japan – Namibia 0:3 (0:11, 5:11, 2:11)
Following the closest game of the World Championship, Namibia delivers the most decisive result to date by defeating Japan 3:0. The few points scored by the crowd-favorite Japanese team are enthusiastically celebrated by the stadium fans, but they couldn’t match the technically superior team from Africa.

New Zealand Triumphs Over Serbia in Three Sets
Serbia – New Zealand 0:3 (10:12, 3:11, 6:11)
The result might appear decisive, but both teams engage in an excellent exchange during the evening match on the fourth day of the World Championship. Josh Cameron shines as the match-winner for New Zealand, supported by the strong Kempf brothers, who set up several remarkable plays. Although Serbia fought hard in all three sets, they couldn’t seriously challenge the clear victory of the Kiwis.

All games are livstreamed on fistball.tv.

Recap Day 3 World Championship – Favorites advance to Quarterfinals

Germany and Austria win and advance as group winners directly to the quarterfinals of the 16th  Fistball Men’s World Championship. They are followed by second-placed Brazil and Switzerland, who defeated Argentina and Namibia. In front of almost 3,000 spectators at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium, Denmark staged a comeback from a 0-2 set deficit, Belgium celebrated its first victory, and Japan engaged in a dramatic duel – with the better end for the Oceanians.

Germany – Italy 3:0 (11:4, 11:2, 11:5)

Fueled by 2,700 children on Schools Day, Germany celebrated its third consecutive victory, this time against Italy, maintaining a flawless record as Group A’s leader. The standout players were Patrick Thomas with powerful and well-placed smashes and Nick Trinemeier with diagonal shots that often left Italy stranded. Coach Olaf Neuenfeld used the opportunity against the outmatched Italians to give the entire squad the necessary competition experience and playing time.

Austria Tops Group After Obligatory Victory Against Chile
Austria – Chile 3:0 (11:9, 11:4, 13:11)

The match against the supposedly easiest group opponent, Chile, allowed Austria to try out new attacking strategies. Main attacker Karl Müllehner could rest, while Martin Pühringer, Gustav Gürtler, and Jean Andrioli were given more playing time. After a cautious start, Austria found its stride, and Chile’s attacking formation, consisting of Alvaro Mödinger, Andres Gruss, and later Eduardo Mödinger, struggled to find a way to consistently challenge the Austrian defense.

New Zealand Leaves No Chance for Czech Republic
Czech Republic – New Zealand 0:3 (3:11, 8:11, 5:11)

New Zealand not only dominated the duel with the Czech Republic but also finished first in Group C thanks to the victory. The “Kiwis,” led by attackers Bill Roser and Josh Cameron, displayed a nearly perfect first set. The Czech team, with captain Tomas Batka, showed some improvement when setter Ctirad Grüner was brought in. However, nearly all of Czech Republic’s points in the third set came from short serves.

Denmark Stages a Comeback in a Seemingly Lost Game
USA – Denmark 2:3 (11:9, 12:10, 9:11, 10:12, 3:11)

The duel between the USA and Denmark was not for the faint-hearted. The Americans were already leading 2-0 and had two match points, but the smiling winners in the end were the Danes, who won Group D. The match was evenly contested for four sets, but both sides made many unforced errors. In the fifth set, the USA lost their momentum, and Denmark managed to turn the game around.

Switzerland Wins Rainy Match Against Namibia
Switzerland – Namibia 3:0 (11:3, 11:1, 11:6)

In the first rainy match of this World Championship, Switzerland left Namibia with no chance. Due to the weather conditions, Switzerland’s technical superiority was evident. As the second-placed team in Group A, Switzerland will play against Argentina or Australia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, while Namibia will face Denmark.

Brazil’s Defense Slows Down Argentina
Brazil – Argentina 3:0 (11:8, 11:4, 11:6)

Brazil won the South American clash against Argentina and thus follows Austria directly to the quarterfinals as the group’s second-place team. Brazil’s defense was hard to crack despite the sometimes adverse weather conditions. Additionally, their offense impressed with powerful and precise shots that were difficult to defend. Argentina, as the group’s third-placed team, will face Australia on Tuesday.

Belgium Surprises with a Decisive Victory
Serbia – Belgium 0:3 (7:11, 9:11, 11:13)

Belgium ended the preliminary round with a surprising third-place victory against Serbia. The hard-fought match was characterized by long rallies and evenly contested points – with the better end for the Belgians, who converted their third match point. Their next opponent in the President’s Cup on Tuesday will be determined during the morning session. Serbia will face the loser of the match between Chile and New Zealand.

Australia Wins an Intense Fistball Thriller
Australia – Japan 3:1 (11:13, 11:7, 11:9, 11:6)

Underdogs and crowd favorites Japan started surprisingly strong, winning the first set 13:11, which marked their first set victory in the tournament. Attacker Taijo Suzuki went beyond his usual performance level, contributing to a highly dramatic game throughout. Japan fought bravely until the end but couldn’t match the physical superiority of the Australians, who secured the victory.

All games are livstreamed on fistball.tv.