Racketlon Breakthrough in Sofia
Gothenburg, Sweden, 2004-07-18
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Unanimous reports talk about a very successful and interesting first Bulgarian Open, the first racketlon tournament known to have ever taken place in Eastern Europe. Read Magnus Eliasson's briefing from Sofia below, followed by an inspired longer report signed English racketlon enthusiast Keith Lesser.
Full results from Sofia can be found here.
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Magnus Eliasson, Sofia, Friday 040716:
A short briefing about what is happening in the Bulgarian Open in
Sofia. There were 6 groups of three players and two groups of
four players starting today friday 040716 in the main event. Six
women players and three veterans altogether 35 players from six
countries. facilities are very good and the organisation very
heplful. Tne weather is great and everybody seems to enjoy the
tournament. Three television stations were here today and will
cover the event throughout the tournament. The group winners will
play eachother in quaterfinals tomorrow. Play has not yet
finished but it looks like it will be four international players
and four bulgarians playing QF tomorrow. More info coming later.
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Keith Lesser, Sofia, Saturday 040717:
The Bulgarian Adventure continues.
We embarked on our journey via Munich on Thursday evening, which
seems like an eternity ago.
Magnus Eliasson, Callum Reid, Chris Noakes, Katy Buchanan,
Jeljazko Valkov, Nikolai Angelov, Dinko Hodzev and Stonchev
Ivonchev provide today's quarter final line up.
Scores are not yet available but Eliasson, Noakes and Reid have
progressed.
The most exciting tournament match so far finished minutes ago
with Buchanan (doubling in the Men's event) gaining revenge over
Greek badminton and Racketlon international Christos Poulios (who
defeated her in the recent British Open) by one point. In true
Racketlon style, the match was very unpredictable.
London - 25-23 TT, 2-21 SQ, 21-0 BA, 21-17 TE (Poulios +7)
Sofia - 21-12 TT, 21-3 BA, 12-21 TE, 2-21 (Buchanan +1)
Katy proceeds to play Bulgarian number 1 squash and Racketlon
player Nikolai Angelov who won the World amateur championships in
Gothernburg last November. Both (Christos and Katy) have greatly
improved their table tennis, however the pivotal factor proved to
be Katy's tennis.
Another exciting Ladies match: Aneta Yaneva narrowly lost to
Izena Atanasona by two points in a gruelling encounter:
Atanasova-Yaneva +2 (21-13 TT, 17-21 BA, 13-21 TE, 21-15 SQ).
Buchanan has destroyed all in her path, as has her men's world
ranked equivelent Eliasson, Magnus. A tremendous result includes
Katy's win yesterday against Bulgarian's squash and badminton
international number one (who's name has at this point escaped
me.....!) Particularly impressive was the badminton set, this can
provide heart to all Rackathlete's round the world. Buchanan from
an almost beginner with 2 practice sessions a week has become a
strong force and difficult opponent, with flaired drops leaving
the crowd on their knees in ore of her talents.
Sofia has brought the Racketlon bug further afield yet again and
has without a doubt uncovered some excellent talents.
Antoan Gerginov despatched experience Rackathlete Chris Noakes
21-1 at tennis. However narrowly lost to the squash dynamo by 10
points.
Dinko Hodzev, who also took part in last year's world
championships is another well known name, however a new name in
world Racketlon is 35 year old Stoian Ivanchev, scores are not
yet available, however in today's quarter final Ivanchev narrowly
lost to Callum Reid with Reid edging home in the final squash
set. Nikolay Dudin who only narrowly lost to Poulios by 1 point
must also be commended on his Racketlon debut narrowly losing in the
group of death also to Buchanan. Dudin seemingly has a good
allround game with strong squash.
In yesterday's most explosive encounter Ivanchev defeated England
table tennis specialist Keith Lesser by a narrow 6 points. Lesser
played exceptionally well to keep Ivanchev to 3 points at TT,
however was no match for the 7 years ago 2 time Bulgarian Badminton
men's champion, who sensationally quit badminton 5 years ago.
Stoian has since played tennis most days of the week and is
Bulgarian amateur tennis champion. 21-6, 21-0 to Stoian. Lesser
was shocked not to win a tennis point, as some of the rallies
lasted seemingly 30 strokes on the deadly clay :-)). 21-2 was a
target just out of Lesser's reach, the Bulgarian fought like a
dog to make 2 points. The squash set finished 21-9, however the
game was over. A momentus match. Seemingly satisfied a tired
Lesser kept upbeat and is set on driving a talented young Scot to
victory over the world champion in Sunday's final. Lesser will
later drill the Scot on service and strategy - the key to
victory. A good start may unsettle the iron man, and an upset may
seem possible.
Angelov may have the edge over a tired Buchanan, who will aim to
test her opponent in all 4 sports however Angelov surely
possesses a terrible Racketlon profile for Katy and will surely
proceed through to the semi finals where he will most likely face
world champ Magnus. If Katy were to rise above fatigue and
conquer the Bulgarian 7 time mens squash champion/former
Bulgarian junior national squash team member it would make her
achievements all the more sensational.
More official and unofficial reports are to follow (including
perhaps Levs supreme cheapness and Sofia's night life, plus new
pre-match pingis training NOT TO BE MISSED).
Keith Lesser, Sofia, Sunday 040718:
The Bulgarian Open delivered beyond expectation. Puzant and his
team must be commended for their formidable hospitality and
efficient transportation and time keeping. We were well fed and
our needs adhered to the finest detail. Magic shows, Sofia
nightlife, dinner with a gold medal olympian weightlifter and
drinking into the night with Bulgaria's most famous singers and
pop stars gave true meaning to a truely unique international
Racketlon experience.
As expected the top seeds prevailed. They currently call the best
Racketlon male and female players in the world MAGNUS ELIASSON
AND KATY BUCHANAN. Both have shown irresistable enthusiasm in
making every tour event and have set the benchmark with
tremendous practice regimes outlining the benchmark to meet the
most talented Rackathletes in the world.
Katy B impressed all with a truely brilliant allround performance
failing to drop a set in the ladies event in any one discipline.
The current world number one, beat a host of Bulgarian
International standard badminton players and her exponential
improvement in the last 6 months shows that when talent and
genius (Katy is happy to outline the mathematical PIE to 120
decimal places and outline the famous physics mystery of
measuring a piece of string around the circumference of the
world) is combined with hard work, training and coaching, a
Racketlon force to be reckoned with is formed.
Eliasson had to perform to the top of his game to come close to
winning the first ever Bulgarian Racketlon Open. From the
perspective of ghosts of Racketlon past, Bulgaria showed a snipet
of present versus the future. Eliasson first defeating Bulgaria
supremo Nikolai Angelov and then in a pulsating final Scotland's
young whizz Callum Reid.
Reid took the opening table tennis set 21-13, Eliasson fought
back with a 21-7 badminton victory and after racing to a 6-0 lead
in the tennis the title seemed all but won. However, the great
one's concentration lapsed in the Bulgarian sun and Reidimus
fought back to be ahead at the change of ends 11-10! The iron man
eventually completed the tennis set with a strong 21-13 victory.
21-6 being the eventual squash score and as Reidimus strode
around the squash court with pace, skill and precision, his
longer ginger locks gave us a peak into future encounters.
Trickle boasts and low drops were no problem for the professional
psychologist and he was far too consistent to even contemplate
defeat. An absolutely battered Scot came off the court strong to
roars and cheers, as Racketlon reached the hearts of the Sofia
crowd. Magnus 1 - 0 Rest of the World.
Magnus made the choice to come to Bulgaria and the match the home
crowd longed for against home grown magician Nikolai Angelov
meant 1 of the 4 semi-finalists was a home talent. Angelov
started well with a 12-21 defeat in TT, with Magnus lacking the
strategic Racketlon necessary to defeat the young talent. Angelov
levelled the match in Badminton despatching the world champion
with relative ease 21-12. Going into tennis the crowd applauded
and roared Nikolai to ace King Magnus, however the Swede proved
too strong 21-2 TE. The Bulgarian Squash multi-champion lost to
Eliasson in a strong physical battle 21-19 meaning an overall
deficit of 21 points not a margin most in the world can boast,
certainly the future holds much for Nikolai Angleov and Callum
Reid. John O'Donnell must be sitting on a Coventry lavatory
wondering when his position of British number one will be
relinquished. O'Donnell must strive for improvement, otherwise he
will be kicked out out of Racketlon stardom and a return to
supremacy would be tremendously difficult for the ex-squash
professional.
Angelov defeated Buchanan.
A close encounter saw Katy's best ever Racketlon TT performance
21-13. A truely excellent performance when you consider Angelov
obtained 12 points from world champion Eliasson. Katy served,
blocked and looped like a veteran and must soon be looking to
represent Scotland at full international level (which potentially
could happen in 3+ sports). Buchanan is set to make the records
and break them.
Reid defeated Ivanchev.
Ivanchev conquered new England number 7, Keith Lesser in the
previous round. Ivanchev showed his elite Racketlon credentials
with a 6 point victory over the improving table tennis
allrounder. Stoian was on the floor after his encounter with
Lesser and proved just too weak for Reid. However Callum
(expected to make the final) nearly succumbed to arguably the 3rd
strongest player in the tournament. 21-8 TT, 10-21 BA, 11-21 TE,
21-6 SQ leaving an 8 point margin for victory. Lesser took heart
from this result and Reid progressed to easily defeat Chris
Noakes in Saturday's semi-finals in the 3 sports. 21-15 TT, 21-9,
21-9 (BA, TE). Noakes, frustrated not to get Reid on the squash
court, spoke later for 4 hours on the different profile
possibilities.
Noakes knowledge of profiles proved useful as he despatched Angelov
to finish the tournament 3rd with a very impressive, strong
performance. The former body builder won 21-5 TT, 5-21 BA, 21-12
TE, 21-18 SQ. Noakes in true Racketlon style benfited from being
strong at squash and table tennis, consistent at tennis and
improving at badminton to provide a victory over a class player.
Angelov potentially right now is a top 20 in the world player and
Noakes best victory to date.
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