Regensburg, Germany – The badminton club SV Fortuna Regensburg enjoyed a successful weekend, serving as host and achieving notable results at the Südostdeutsche (Southeast German) Badminton Championships. The tournament, held March 14-15, 2026, at the Städtische Sporthalle Nord in Regensburg, featured competition in the under-22 and senior divisions, with over 400 matches played across 18 courts in two halls.
Fortuna didn’t just manage the logistics of the event; the club’s athletes secured a total of four medals – two silver and two bronze – demonstrating their competitive strength. The Südostdeutsche Meisterschaft serves as a crucial qualifying event for the German national championships, adding extra significance to the performances in Regensburg.
Hallof-Büstrich Claims Silver in Veteran Competition
Heike Hallof-Büstrich, competing in the over-60 age group, delivered a strong performance in the women’s singles event. She advanced to the final after defeating Astrid Binnemann of Leipzig with scores of 15-12 and 15-12. However, in the championship match, Grit Grün of Konstanz proved too strong, winning 21-18, 16-21 and 11-21, leaving Hallof-Büstrich with a silver medal.
Hallof-Büstrich also teamed up with Joachim Kick of SG Post Süd Regensburg in the mixed doubles competition. The pair reached the semi-finals but were ultimately defeated in a close match against Schill/Heichel-Ott, 14-21, 21-15, and 19-21, finishing with a bronze medal.
Early Exit for Weigert Due to Injury
Unfortunately, the tournament wasn’t without its setbacks for SV Fortuna. Promising junior talent Lukas Weigert suffered a foot injury early in the competition, hindering his performance in the mixed doubles event. Partnered with Marie Lohneisen of DJK Nord Regensburg, Weigert was able to secure a win in the first round despite the injury, but was unable to progress further.
Eckert’s Strong Showing in Men’s Competition
Valerian Eckert, a member of SV Fortuna’s Regionalliga team, had a particularly successful run in the men’s singles competition. After securing two clear victories, he reached the quarter-finals where he faced Felix Knödel of Schorndorf. Having previously lost to Knödel in the final of the Südostdeutsche Jugendmeisterschaft (Southeast German Youth Championship) just weeks prior, Eckert reversed the result, winning convincingly with scores of 21-16, 14-21, and 21-15.
Eckert’s momentum continued into the men’s doubles event, where he partnered with Felix Knödel. The duo surprised many by defeating the top-seeded pair of Mark Obermeier and Maximilian Steimer (from Offenburg and Diedorf, respectively) in the semi-finals with a score of 21-17 and a remarkably close 27-25.
The final proved to be a tense affair. Knödel and Eckert ultimately fell short against Moritz Miller and Jannik Czerny (from Freystadt and Diedorf) losing 21-16, 20-22, and 22-24, and settling for a silver medal. The match was reportedly decided by nerves, with the Fortuna duo struggling to maintain their composure in the crucial moments.
The Südostdeutsche Meisterschaft showcased not only the talent within SV Fortuna Regensburg but also the club’s ability to host a large-scale badminton event. The tournament provided a platform for both established players and rising stars to compete and demonstrate their skills, contributing to the continued growth of badminton in the region.
For those interested in following the results and future events, the official tournament page can be found at dbv.turnier.de.
The next scheduled competition for many of these athletes will be the German National Championships, where they will look to build on their successes from Regensburg.
