Salmon Arm’s Winston Pain returns from the National Teams and Doubles World Championships, not only with memories, but with Canada’s first medal in racketlon for Team Canada. The championships, that were held in Milan, Italy April 30 to May 1, saw players from all over the world compete in four racket events including tennis, badminton, squash and table tennis.
“To win a medal is huge,” said Pain who, with his teammates Horatio Pintea from Ottawa, Danny Shannon from Calgary and Dany Lessard from Montreal, beat Germany to win bronze in the Senior National Teams Competition for men 45 and up. “Canada has never won at the World Racketlon Championships which is why it was even more satisfying.”
The sport of racketlon is very popular in Europe, and is beginning to gain momentum in Canada, said Pain, recalling that there are about 500 registered members in Canada.
“It is really fun. I have never played ping pong or badminton before, which is challenging,” said Pain, who started playing in racketlon tournaments just three years ago.
“Not everyone is good at all four events, but you just have to be competent in the events you aren’t great at until you get to your stronger ones.”
There were 10 countries competing in the Senior National Teams Competition and it was England that Canada would play first. They beat England 10 to 3, but would lose by only three to Hungary in the semi-finals. Hungary would go on to win silver and, in the end, it would be Sweden to claim gold.
“It was the first time I ever played for team Canada and it was an honour to be chosen to play,” said Pain, who was chosen to play based on his ranking. He is currently ranked 20th in all of Canada, including all age groups.
“It was neat standing on the podium,” he said. “It really felt like you were representing your country.”
Pain says it was exciting to play against the various countries during the championships and that each team had its own spirit and way of supporting themselves.
“Everyone is competing and playing hard, but at the end of the day, there was good sportsmanship. I can’t tell you how fun it really was to meet the other players.”
Most enjoyable for Pain during the championships was the camaraderie that developed between he and his teammates.
“All the guys on my team are really talented,” he said. “It is the best experience I have had over the years in terms of competition and team play.”
Pain said that if he gets enough play with racketlon and can keep his ranking up, he will jump at the chance to attend the event next year.
“If I am asked to play I will because it is definitely an honour,” he said.
