Fortuna Schwetzingen Claims Verbandsliga Nordbaden Title, Earns Promotion
Schwetzingen, Germany – Fortuna Schwetzingen I secured the Verbandsliga Nordbaden championship on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with a dominant performance at home, earning promotion to the Badenliga for the next season. The team clinched the title after a decisive day of competition, overcoming both BSV Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen II and SSV Ettlingen III.
The championship victory marks Fortuna Schwetzingen’s fourth title in the last five years, solidifying their position as a powerhouse in the regional badminton scene. The final day of the season saw a tense battle for the top spot, with TSG Weinheim likewise in contention, creating a compelling “Fernduell” (distance duel) for the championship.
A Day of Decisive Matches
Fortuna Schwetzingen began the day with a highly anticipated match against BSV Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen II, a team ranked third in the league. The match immediately set a high-stakes tone. Oliver Stein and Alexander Bödigheimer opened the day with a strong showing in the first men’s doubles, defeating Tristan Inhoven and Sean Modl with scores of 21-16 and 21-11. Kateryna Khlystova and Sofie Haas followed suit in the women’s doubles, securing a victory against Rebecca Linder and Franziska Lüdtke with a 21-14, 22-20 win.
While the second men’s doubles match saw a loss for Schwetzingen – Fabio Schlindwein and Patrick Leeker fell to their opponents with scores of 12-21 and 12-21 – the team quickly regained momentum. Oliver Stein continued his strong performance in the first men’s singles, defeating Tristan Inhoven 21-19 and 21-14. A setback came in the women’s singles, where Sofie Haas lost to Yvonne Geimer 14-21 and 9-21.
The turning point of the match arrived with Alexander Bödigheimer’s performance in the second men’s singles. After losing the first set, Bödigheimer rallied to win against Richard Samman with scores of 16-21, 21-13, and 21-12, securing a crucial point for Fortuna. The mixed doubles pairing of Florian Maibach and Kateryna Khlystova then added to the lead, defeating Sebastian Senst and Rebecca Linder 21-12 and 21-15. Despite a loss in the third men’s singles – Florian Maibach falling to Dennis Moschina 12-21 and 19-21 – Fortuna secured a 5-3 victory, setting the stage for their second match of the day.
Dominating Performance Against SSV Ettlingen III
With the championship hanging in the balance, Fortuna Schwetzingen faced SSV Ettlingen III. A clear victory was essential to secure the title, given the close competition with TSG Weinheim. Schwetzingen responded with a dominant performance, demonstrating their focus and determination.
The first men’s doubles team of Oliver Stein and Alexander Bödigheimer, along with the women’s doubles team of Kateryna Khlystova and Sofie Haas, both received a bye, immediately adding two points to Schwetzingen’s total. Fabio Schlindwein and Florian Maibach then secured another win in the second men’s doubles, defeating Nico Weber and Philipp Martens 21-19 and 21-9.
Oliver Stein continued his impressive form in the first men’s singles, overpowering Jochen Mackert with scores of 21-5 and 21-14. While Sofie Haas faced a tough opponent in Ines Rivero Garcia, losing 14-21 and 17-21 in the women’s singles, the mixed doubles team of Florian Maibach and Kateryna Khlystova also received a bye, further solidifying Schwetzingen’s lead.
Fabio Schlindwein sealed the victory with a win in the third men’s singles, defeating Philipp Martens 21-19 and 21-13. Alexander Bödigheimer then delivered the final blow, winning the second men’s singles against his opponent with scores of 21-14 and 21-10, bringing the final score to 7-1.
Second Team Also Finds Success
The success wasn’t limited to the first team. Fortuna Schwetzingen’s second team also enjoyed a successful day, defeating BSG Mannheim III 6-2. Patrick Leeker and Dominik Demtröder started strong in the first men’s doubles, winning 21-16 and 21-19. Ella Savenkova and Dorothee Ledermann followed with a victory in the women’s doubles, 21-13 and 22-20. The second men’s doubles pairing of Denis Kintop and Oleg Tolstopiat faced a loss, 19-21 and 13-21.
In the singles matches, Patrick Leeker won the first men’s singles 21-19 and 21-17, while Ella Savenkova secured a win in the women’s singles 21-13 and 21-14. Dominik Demtröder continued the winning streak in the second men’s singles, 21-14 and 21-17. Martin Käfer lost the third men’s singles 17-21 and 9-21. The mixed doubles pairing of Martin Käfer and Dorothee Ledermann clinched the final point after a three-set battle, 19-21, 21-18, and 21-9, resulting in a 6-2 victory for the second team.
The second team’s win secured them a 5th-place finish in the Kreisliga Mannheim-Heidelberg.
Fortuna Schwetzingen’s impressive performance throughout the day showcased their strength, resilience, and teamwork. The club’s success is a testament to the dedication of its players and coaching staff.
The team will now prepare for competition in the Badenliga next season. Details regarding the schedule and opponents will be announced by the league in the coming weeks.
