Graz, Austria played host to the Dodgeball World Championships this summer, and for the first time, England sent a full contingent of six teams, competing in both cloth and foam categories. This marked a significant milestone for the nation, showcasing the growth and ambition of the English dodgeball program.
The cloth teams arrived in Austria with high hopes, fresh off a dominant performance at the Western European Championships where they secured seven out of nine medals. Their confidence was evident from the start. The Men’s and Mixed Cloth teams stormed through their group stages, winning every match and securing top spots. The Women’s Cloth team faced a tougher challenge, drawn in the same group as perennial rivals Austria. Despite a setback against the Austrians, they won all their other group games to advance in second place.
The foam teams, relative newcomers to the international scene having only formed at the end of 2023, were seen as underdogs. However, they defied expectations with impressive performances in their group stages. The Men’s Foam team, despite being grouped with reigning world champions Malaysia, didn’t let the loss against Malaysia dampen them and they won all their other matches to finish second. The Mixed Foam team faced a similar challenge against the USA, the third-place finishers from the previous World Championships, and also secured second place after winning their remaining games after a loss to the USA. The Women’s Foam team faced the toughest draw, competing against both the USA and Canada, both former world champions. They battled hard and ultimately finished third in their group.
All six teams progressed to the quarter-finals, but this is where the foam teams’ journey ended. They suffered defeats against Hong Kong (Mixed), Malaysia (Men’s), and the USA (Women’s). After the positional play-offs, the final standings for the foam teams were 7th for both Mixed and Women’s, and 6th for Men’s.
The cloth teams continued to shine in the quarter-finals, with victories over Sweden (Mixed), Canada (Men’s), and Australia (Women’s). However, the semi-finals proved to be a hurdle. The Women’s and Men’s Cloth teams fell to Northern Ireland and the USA, respectively. The Women’s Cloth team rebounded strongly to secure a 3rd place finish with a win over Wales in the third-place play-off. The Men’s Cloth team fought valiantly against the USA but ultimately couldn’t clinch the win.
The final match for England saw the Mixed Cloth team face Austria for the championship title. Austria took an early lead, but England fought back fiercely, pushing the match to the brink of overtime. Despite their best efforts, Austria ultimately prevailed.
Final Standings:
- Mixed Cloth – 2nd
- Women’s Cloth – 3rd
- Men’s Cloth – 4th
- Men’s Foam – 6th
- Mixed Foam – 7th
- Women’s Foam – 7th
This tournament showcased the depth and talent of the England Dodgeball program. While the foam teams faced tough competition, their performance provides a solid foundation for future success. The cloth teams’ strong showing, culminating in a silver medal for the Mixed Cloth team and bronze for the Women’s Cloth team, demonstrates England’s continued strength on the international stage.
