Badminton Bundesliga

“The difference in level is simply gigantic”

(Bild: GEPA)

The opening match in the Badminton Bundesliga for second division champions and promoted team WAT Simmering was lost 3:5 against reigning champions Pressbaum. Nevertheless, the eleventh district is satisfied with their debut. The crowd also proved the Simmering team right. 

"Not a single spectator left early. I've never seen it like this before," said Simmering's "Mister Badminton" Manuel Rösler, describing the first match day of his protégés around talent Pascal Cheng in the domestic national league after promotion.

In front of the packed hall in Mollardgasse, the second division champions from the eleventh district were one size too big for the reigning champions from Pressbaum, losing 3:5. "Nevertheless, we are very satisfied with the start. We were able to challenge Pressbaum more than Traun last year in the final," says Rösler. But he emphasizes: "We don't want to become champions right away. The difference in level between the second and first division is huge, like the difference between the Austrian Bundesliga and the Champions League in soccer." In recent years, the promoted team has usually been relegated again. "But we have a good chance of finishing in the top four."

In addition to the shortened scoring system, which makes the league matches much more crisp, the huge LED screens installed in the summer are also a factor that contributes to the event character of WAT Simmering's matches. This means that fans can always keep an eye on the overall score.