Deutsch
IFA U18 Fistball World Championship Germany 2016 has 3,850 spectators
The IFA U18 Fistball World Championship for women and men in Nürnberg-Eibach, with six participating teams from three continents, ended with a double victory by defending champion Germany. Germany defeated Brazil 4:2 in the women’s finals (14:15; 11:06, 11:04, 09:11, 14:12, 11:08), and the German men’s team defeated Austria in the finals, also 4:2 (12:10, 11:04, 06:11, 11:06, 07:11, 11:04). In the small finals, Switzerland won third place among the women’s teams, and Brazil took third among the men.
Austria’s U18 men played convincingly in every game up to the finals, raising expectations for their performance in the final match against Germany. It seemed like they had a chance against the host team in the preliminary round. Things looked good at the beginning of the first set, with the Austrians quickly pulling ahead 9:5. But Team Austria was unable to seal the deal. Germany took the lead and then the victory, 12:10. This anticlimactic finish was followed by a 11:04 set loss.
But then the Austrians cranked it up, taking the third set 11:06. It was relatively clear that set four was back in German hands. The Germans got better from one point to the next against the Austrians, and showed a clear improvement in performance over the previous World Championship matches. With a score of 11:06, the fourth set was a relatively clear victory for them. In the fifth set, the Austrians remembered their strengths again and fought for the 11:07 set win.
Germany dominated the next set once again, however. While Austria’s lack of concentration kept growing with the increasing set length, with the team even accumulating unforced errors, Germany played outstandingly in front of 1,350 spectators, leaving little doubt that they wouldn’t let this set, and with it the match, slip out of their hands again. They scored the match point, 10:4. Germany won the World Championship Final easily, 4:2 in sets.
In the exciting final of the women’s U18, the defending champion Germany was able to take the victory with their two Eibacher players Sonja Schröder and Auguste Grothoff. Their 4:2 win may look like an easy victory, but the match itself was much more exciting. The first and fifth sets were particularly close, at 14:15 and 14:12.
Overall, 3,850 spectators came out to the spacious grounds in Nuremberg-Eibach during the four event days. Every match on the center court was broadcast live on the Internet and additionally the event had a TV coverage of 14:30 minutes including a 8:38 minutes TV live coverage on German Television. IFA President Karl Weiss said at the presentation ceremony that this was the “best U18 World Cup ever” and thanked the organizers and volonteers from TV Eibach 03 for their great commitment. The IFA U18 World Championships are held every two years.
Men:
Final: Germany – Switzerland 4:2
(12:10, 11:4, 6:11, 11:6, 7:11, 11:4)
Bronze Medal Match: Brazil – Switzerland 4:0
(11:8, 11:8, 11:8, 11:6)
Final Ranking:
1. Germany
2. Austria
3. Brazil
4. Switzerland
5. India
Women:
Final: Brazil – Germany 2:4
(15:14, 6:11, 4:11, 11:9, 12:14, 8:11).
Bronze Medal Match: Austria – Switzerland 3:4
(15:14, 12:14, 11:6, 11:9, 9:11, 7:11, 12:14).
Final Ranking:
1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Switzerland
4. Austria
5. USA
6. India
