EDMONTON (September 14, 2022) Canada played host to over 60 international teams from August 31 - September 4 for the largest World Dodgeball Championships to date. For the first time, the World Championships featured three divisions across two disciplines in bringing together the foam and cloth formats of the sport.
“This event was very special to the community, as it signaled an international return to play for the World Dodgeball Federation,” noted federation president Duane Wysynski.
As the host nation, Canada was on a quest for gold in hopes of celebrating on home soil. Canada’s Mixed Foam team faced off with Malaysia in the finals and claimed the gold with a 5-3 final score. The Men’s Foam team secured a bronze medal and have never missed a podium since the inception of the World Dodgeball Championships. Closing the tournament was the Women’s Foam final where Canada went undefeated and clinched the gold with a 6-4 finish over Hong Kong.
In the cloth division Canada had a respectable finish placing 4th in Men’s and 6th in Mixed and 7th in Women’s where they all fought hard against the European Teams where this style of game originates.
Dodgeball’s popularity continues to surge around the world which results in greater competition and the skillsets become more refined year after year with more teams fighting for a podium finish. But more than the competition, this event highlights the camaraderie of a burgeoning sport and its international community. Friendships and memories for a lifetime have been made this week and the anticipation of reuniting in Austria for the 2024 World Championships has already begun.
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For more information contact Duane Wysynski, duane@dodgeballcanada.org