The Park Forest Tennis and Health Club is hosting the 2022 U.S. Open Crossminton Championships later this month. It is the first time Park Forest is hosting the event, and it is an official International Crossminton Organization (ICO) 100-level event, meaning players will receive world ranking points.
Some people may need to become more familiar with the sport; however, it is prevalent in Europe and is growing fast. According to the ICO, more than 2.5 million recreational players across the globe play the game.
So what is Crossminton? Crossminton is a racket game combining elements from different sports like badminton, squash, and tennis. It is played without any net and has no prescribed playground. Crossminton can be played on tennis courts, streets, beaches, fields, or gyms.
Donn Gobble, the event organizer, says the event will be open to everyone and is an excellent way for people to learn a new sport.
"It's an ICO-sanctioned tournament, so anybody who plays in it will get a world ranking," Gobble said. "Also, in Crossminton, we have open divisions. Men and women can play in the same division. Men can play against women."
Gobble says the event in Park Forest will be on a smaller scale and limited to 16 Open Singles entries and eight Open Doubles teams. He says the goal is to keep the sport going and grow it throughout the region.
The 2022 U.S. Open Crossminton Championships will take place Dec 28-29. at the Park Forest Tennis and Health Club, located at 290 Westwood Drive. There isn't an entry fee, but court-time contributions are accepted, and loaner racquets will be provided.
To enter: Send an email to donn@crossminton.us with your name, birthdate (month, day, and year), address and phone number, and divisions you want to enter (Open Singles and/or Open Doubles). If you are playing doubles, please include the name of your doubles partner. You can also text the above information at 219-629-3821. Additional entry information will then be emailed to you.
The deadline to enter is Dec 26. at 5 p.m. View the flyer below for more information.
