There are a few 'striking' similarities between volleyball and fistball: the main object of both games is to place the ball in the opponents’ half of the field in such a way that it cannot get returned. But the ball is struck with either fist or arm – never with open hands – and it is allowed to bounce after each contact in fistball.

In the 2005 Duisburg fistball final Austria won the first set rather convincingly, 20:11, but Brazil fought back by taking the next two 20:15 and 20:14. All of a sudden it looked as if the 'Carinha' around standout player George Schuch would be able to revenge the loss in the 2001 Akita final.

The fistball tournament of The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung will likely see the perennial contenders fight it out for the medals once more: Austria, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland. Argentina and Chinese Taipei will be the outsiders in the round-robin tournament.

 Fistball at The World Games