Gateball in Shanghai: Croquet miniaturized, multiplied, and taken up by millions

With more than 600 players from four continents and a mega-budget, the 2010 World Gateball Championship in Shanghai, China, lays claim to being the biggest mallet sports tournament in the world. In September, 30 Australians in five teams will be competing, each hoping to be the first to survive the initial qualifying round. Australian gateballer Alex Park previews the event for Croquet World Online, and we’ll publish a photo story on the championship after it’s over. Alex is a product of Croquet Australia’s pioneering of a “mallet sports” strategy to embrace and promote many games under a single banner. As a member of the Canberra Croquet Club, he’s well qualified to explain the game played by millions to croquet players who number in the mere thousands.

Read the full article at Croquet World Online.