Playing with a shortened 15-point set format for the first time, Xenia Kölmel and Jarne Schlevoigt secured two titles apiece at the 4th DBV ranking tournament in Mellensee.
The three-day competition ran from November 13 to 15 at the Mehrzweckhalle Mellensee in Brandenburg, drawing 143 players across five disciplines. For the first time at an under-19 German Badminton Association ranking event, matches shifted from the traditional 21-point format to best-of-three sets played to 15 points.
TV Refrath emerged as the dominant club on finals day, reaching all five championship matches. The club captured two titles through Brian Holtschke in the men’s singles and Marcello Kausemann in the men’s doubles.
The tournament’s biggest upset arrived in the mixed doubles final. Seeded fifth through eighth, Jarne Schlevoigt of 1. BV Mülheim and Xenia Kölmel of Gladbecker FC defeated top seeds Marcello Kausemann and Annika Horbach of TV Refrath in straight sets, 15-13, 15-13.
Schlevoigt and Kölmel earned their spot in the title match by overcoming Linus Emmerich and Maike Iffland 15-11, 15-12 in the semifinals.
In the women’s singles draw, top seed Kölmel lived up to her ranking. After her scheduled semifinal opponent, Constanze Winnefeld, withdrew from the tournament, Kölmel faced Florentine Schöffski of TV Refrath in the final. Dropping the opening set, Kölmel rebounded to claim the title with a 13-15, 15-8, 15-11 victory.
Brian Holtschke of TV Refrath claimed the men’s singles crown. Holtschke survived a grueling semifinal against Lennart Notni of SV GutsMuths Jena, prevailing 17-15 in the decisive third set. In the final, he defeated Karl Sufryd of the 1. BV Mülheim. BV Mülheim 15-12, 15-12. Sufryd had previously eliminated third and fourth seed Leon Kaschura in three sets.
Schlevoigt collected his second title of the weekend in the men’s doubles event. Partnering with Kausemann, the top-seeded pair defeated Christopher Klauer and Nikolas Klauer 15-5, 15-12 in the final.
The women’s doubles title went to top seeds Mareike Kelch and Louisa Marburger of TV Hofheim. After dropping a tight opening set 16-18 to Annika Horbach and Brid Stepper, Kelch and Marburger adjusted their tactics to win the next two sets 15-7, 15-8. The loss marked Horbach’s second defeat in a championship match that day.
Men’s Singles: Brian Holtschke (TV Refrath) def. Karl Sufryd (1. BV Mülheim) 15-12, 15-12.
Women’s Singles: Xenia Kölmel (Gladbecker FC) def. Florentine Schöffski (TV Refrath) 13-15, 15-8, 15-11.
Men’s Doubles: Marcello Kausemann (TV Refrath) and Jarne Schlevoigt (1. BV Mülheim) def. Christopher Klauer (SC Union 08 Lüdinghausen) and Nikolas Klauer (TV Witzhelden) 15-5, 15-12.
Women’s Doubles: Mareike Kelch and Louisa Marburger (both TV Hofheim) def. Annika Horbach (TV Refrath) and Brid Stepper (SC Union 08 Lüdinghausen) 16-18, 15-7, 15-8.
Mixed Doubles: Jarne Schlevoigt (1. BV Mülheim) and Xenia Kölmel (Gladbecker FC) def. Marcello Kausemann and Annika Horbach (both TV Refrath) 15-13, 15-13.
Worth a look
