teenage to septuagenarian, with five players entering each of the 18+ and 50+ masters categories. Heralding from London, Leeds, Montpellier and Dubai, Feldman says: “Given that there was no team at the beginning of the year, a lot of effort, phone calls, letter-writing and emailing has gone into assembling a group of 10.”
The Maccabiah Games will play host to singles, doubles, mixed doubles and teams’ tournaments for both the age categories, for men and women. At the time of press, there were set to be around half a dozen countries fielding teams including from the US, Israel, France, Canada, Cayman Islands and Australia.”
With it making its maiden appearance at the Maccabiah, experience within the squad is obviously scant, though 71-year-old Michael Ziff, known as the ‘father of the squad’, also happens to be the Maccabi GB President and has had a lifelong involvement in all things Maccabi GB, both on the playing and administering side.
Jeremy Josephs, 68, has played the sport in England, France and Israel, saying how along the way, he’s ‘made wonderful friends and got fitter than he ever expected’.
Nadine Shenton, 60, represented he county in heptathlon at a young age, represented the West of England in trampolining and swam for Somerset. She took up pickleball less than a year ago and says she’s now ‘absolutely hooked’.
Lucy Furman, 53, also started the sport a year ago having played tennis for many years previously. With singing being another of her passions, she says: “when I’m not hitting the high notes, I’m busy trying to hit some winners on the court.”
Completing those taking part in the 50+ masters category is player-manager, 50-year-old Feldman. Getting into the sport 18 months ago having last played tennis and badminton more than 30 years ago, he says: “I love the social aspect of the sport and the fact that you can always learn more and improve and there’s a whole new community developing.”
There are also five players taking part in the 18+ open category. Evan Lever, 48, says he’s ‘unapologetically obsessed with pickleball’. Born in South Africa, raised in Australia, shaped by life in Israel and now calling London home after spending a decade in the UK, he says he’s ‘proud’ to be representing Team Maccabi GB on the international stage.
Jeremy Josephs and Lucy Furman[Missing Credit]
Jo Fishburn discovered pickleball while working in San Francisco in 2023 and as was the case with her fellow squad members instantly became hooked. She says she’s drawn to ‘its inclusive spirit and social vibe and loves that anyone can jump in and play’.
Eli Langleben[Missing Credit]
The youngest member of the team is 19-year-old Eli Langleben. Having been playing the game for two years, he says ‘hotdogs are one of my favourite foods, but it’s definitely my favourite shot.
Dubai-based brothers Seb and Alex Isaacs complete the squad.
The ten players have been training since April, once a week at the Everyone Active centre in St Albans, and many have also been playing locally. Saying his wife has become a ‘pickleball widow’ and being ‘very grateful for the support she has given me to enable me to train’, Feldman adds: “Obviously it has been hard to play with our France and Dubai-based teammates, but Jeremy has come over a few times and we played in the Lemon Pickleball Tournament in May.”
Looking to pay tribute to others who have helped behind the scenes, Feldman continues: “Karen Mitchell, the President of Pickleball England, has also been hugely supportive and arranged sponsored training with our coach Mollie Knagg, a European singles pickleball champion, while
Evan has arranged kit and paddle sponsorship with Six Zero, a well-known pickleball brand.”
As to what they’re expecting from the opposition, he says: “Given that pickleball has been played for decades in the US, they will be the hot favourites, they have some of the best players in the world in their squad but with professional players in Israel and other countries, the standard of competition will be pretty high (if patchy with the Maccabi GB team)”
Describing how much the squad are looking to take part in the tournament, Feldman says: “In all honesty, despite Mollie’s wonderful coaching, we’re not looking to win a medal. The ethos of the team has been about having fun, improving and representing our country with pride, we want to publicise the sport, enjoy the games we play, and soak up the experience of the third largest sporting event on the planet.”
Explaining what it means to him to be managing the team on a personal level, he continues: “I was a county water polo player at U16 level, but didn’t make the cut for the Maccabiah Games many years ago. I’ve been wanting to go ever since. So, to be given another chance in a niche but growing sport has been fantastic. It’s been great building a team from scratch over the last few months. I’ve probably spoken to more than 100 Jewish pickleball players from around the country in order to find the team and am sure that in four years’ time, there will be a much higher awareness and more players wanting to play.”
And finally, as to what he hopes the squad take from the Maccabiah Games, he says: “We want to play with smiles on our faces. We see ourselves a bit like the Jamaican Bob-sleigh team, or Eddie the Eagle. Hopefully we can do ourselves and the Team Maccabi GB team proud and have a huge amount of fun in the tournament.
“We will get to play against players of a standard that we would never otherwise encounter, so that and the sense of communion with the Jewish sporting diaspora in Israel will be amazing.”
Squad:
Michael Ziff, Jeremy Josephs, Lucy Furman, Evan Lever, Alexander Isaacs, Sebastian Isaacs, Jo Fishburn, Mark Feldman (player-manager), Elijah Langleben, Nadine Shenton
%2C%20Martin%20Seifert%20(squad%20player%20not%20going%20to%20the%20Maccabiah)%2C%20Evan%20Lever%2C%20Lucy%20Furman.jpg?f=3x2&w=732&q=0.6)
From left to right Jo Fishburn, Nadine Shenton, Mark Feldman (player-manager), Martin Seifert (squad player not going to the Maccabiah), Evan Lever, Lucy Furman.[Missing Credit]