TuS Geretsried Withdraws from 2. Bundesliga Badminton Due to Player Shortage

Geretsried – A significant shift is underway for the TuS Geretsried badminton team. After seven seasons competing in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga Süd, the club has announced its withdrawal from the league due to a critical shortage of players. The team intends to rebuild in the Bayernliga, a regional league, moving forward.

The decision marks a stark turn of events for a program that, as recently as 2025, achieved its greatest success – a second-place finish in the 2. Bundesliga Süd. Abteilungsleiter (Department Head) Sascha Gnalian expressed disappointment, stating, “After seven years in the 2. Bundesliga, this journey is coming to an conclude. It’s a shame we have to end the project.”

Badminton has a long and largely successful history in Geretsried, with the department founded in 1970. The club experienced a resurgence in 2007, becoming a performance center and steadily climbing the ranks to reach the 2. Bundesliga Süd. A key component of this success was a strong focus on developing young talent. Ann-Kathrin Spöri, a former German Junior Champion who has represented both the club and the national team, exemplifies this commitment to homegrown players.

Still, the club has struggled to replenish its ranks with players capable of competing at the Bundesliga level. Gnalian explained the severity of the situation, stating, “Basically, we only have two and a half players available.” Several key players are no longer available for various reasons. Ann-Kathrin Spöri is unavailable due to personal commitments, Paula Kick is unable to continue due to professional obligations, and player-coach Oliver Roth has moved to another club.

Further compounding the issue, Michelle Deschle is currently participating in a study abroad program in Barcelona, and Alexander Niesner is also abroad. Kevin Feibicke, a Munich resident, is relocating, while Samuel Gnalian is reducing his commitment to the sport. This leaves Max Kick and Nicole Schnurrer as the only remaining players from the current roster.

A minimum of four men and two women are required to field a team, and Gnalian estimates that seven men and four women are needed to comfortably compete throughout an entire season. The club explored various options to address the shortfall. Gnalian considered retaining players who had moved away, but the associated travel costs – previously offset by crowdfunding initiatives – proved prohibitive. Recruiting youth players from across Bavaria who possessed Regionalliga (regional league) quality was also considered, but ultimately rejected.

“I invest a lot of time as a manager,” Gnalian said. “I don’t wish to do that if it only involves bringing in external players.” this approach would have conflicted with the club’s philosophy of prioritizing local talent. “We have always tried to manage with players from our youth system or from the region. We only brought in external players as support.”

Looking ahead, a start in the Regionalliga was a possibility, but the remaining players expressed a desire to return to the 2. Bundesliga as quickly as possible. Gnalian believes the club, with its 140 members, cannot realistically offer that pathway. The first team will be withdrawn from competition, with the TuS II squad – currently competing in the Bayernliga – taking its place as the club’s primary team.

Recent results, including a narrow 3-4 loss to 1. BC Saarbrücken-Bischmisheim and a 1-6 defeat against 1. BV Maintal, took a backseat to the larger issue of player availability. The team intends to celebrate its final home matches of the season with its supporters this weekend. “We are looking forward to something special,” Gnalian stated.

The TuS Geretsried’s decision highlights the challenges faced by smaller clubs in maintaining competitiveness in professional sports leagues. While the club’s commitment to developing local talent has been a hallmark of its success, the lack of a sustainable pipeline of players ultimately led to this difficult decision. The focus now shifts to rebuilding within the Bayernliga and fostering a modern generation of badminton players in the Geretsried region.

What’s Next: The TuS Geretsried will compete in the Bayernliga starting next season. The club will also host its final home matches of the current season this weekend, providing an opportunity for fans to show their support.

What are your thoughts on the TuS Geretsried’s decision? Share your comments below.