The first Malta Racketlon Open will be played at the Marsa Sports Club in autumn.
The tournament, between October 2 and 4, is being organised by the English Racketlon Association (ERA) and forms part of the official Racketlon World Tour 2015.
Racketlon involves table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis. Each match is played up to 21 points with the winner being the one who scores the most number of points across all four disciplines.
Officially one of the fastest growing sports in 2012, Racketlon is becoming hugely popular worldwide and currently played in over 40 countries.
The ERA is working closely with various key partners in Malta including Angelino Sciberras, of the Luxol Badminton Club, John Attard, of the Msida Arrows Badminton Club, and HiTT Malta Table Tennis Academy administrator Mario Genovese.
The tournament is also receiving invaluable support from the Marsa Sports Club and all four federations involved in racketlon sport.
“We are expecting the Malta Racketlon Open to attract international players from many different countries,” a statement by the local organisers of the tournament said.
“We already have confirmed entries for players from Sweden, England, France, Switzerland, Hungary and Germany and there will be many more.”
They added that, through various local partners, they also aim to create a lot of interest for players to participate from within the sporting communities of Malta itself, particularly those from table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis.
“We want to encourage players of all ages from these four sports to give racketlon a go even if they’ve never played some of the sports before,” the statement added.
“Racketlon inspires squash players to learn how to play table tennis and table tennis players to learn how to play badminton etc.
“Increasing the general participation levels and enjoyment of these sports is what racketlon is all about and it is what has already happened in all racketlon playing countries across Europe and beyond.”
Schools initiative
A unique feature of racketlon tournaments is that anyone can enter as even at World Tour events there are many different categories – from elite to the beginners.
Meanwhile, the Open organisers said that there is particular potential to engage with Maltese schools and the university, introducing opportunities to allow young players to learn these racket sports – all with the goal of being able to compete in an international tournament at regular stages.
“We have signed a deal with world body FIR to enable us to host the Malta Open as an official part of the World Tour for the next five years,” the statement said.
“So the 2015 Malta Open tournament this October is not a one-off but rather it is part of a long-term, sustainable plan that could have a hugely significant, positive impact on the sporting communities of Malta.”