Racketlon is a sport for racket-sport lovers. It's often described as the "iron-man of racket sports" where you play your opponent at the four sports of Table Tennis, Badminton, Squash and Tennis, with each set being played to 21 points and the winner being the player who has scored the most amount of points over all four sports. It's a sport which is now played across the world, requires a unique set of skills and stamina and is a fantastic spectacle to watch live.

The Malta Racketlon Open at the Marsa Sports Club (from 12th to 14th October), has once again been sanctioned as an official International World Tour event (for the 4th year running) and its popularity as a destination and as a tournament with international players grows each year.

This year's tournament has attracted five of the men's world top seven players and three of the women's top ten players. On the Men's side we have:

Morten Jaksland, the world no.2 from Denmark, will be seeded no.1 and looking to take his first ever Malta Open title after losing in last year's final.

Dan Busby, the world no.3 from Great Britain and former squash professional will also be pushing hard to take his first ever title in Malta.

Kresten Hougaard, world no.4 from Denmark is the current Malta Open champion and will have to play very well to defend his title this year.

Beni Graenicher, world no.5 and Swiss no.1 comes to play in Malta for the first time and is the strongest Table Tennis player in the competition.

Duncan Stahl, world no.7, 3x British Champion, current 40+ world champion who currently lives and trains in Malta will be hoping his local knowledge can give him an edge.

On the women's side:

Amke Fischer, world no. 4 from Germany and world championship finalist in 2016, will be hoping to add a 3rd Malta Open title to add to her 2015 and 2016 victories.

Nicole Eisler, world no.5 and the Swiss no.1 is a regular at the Malta Open and will be pushing hard for her first tournament win.

Astrid Reimer-Kern, world no.9 from Germany is in great form having just reached the final of this year's world championships in Zurich and also returns to defend her title as the current Malta Open champion.

However, as well as these top world ranked players, two of the sport's former multiple world champions, Calum Reid (Great Britain) and Zuzana Kubanova (Czech Republic) are also making rare appearances and both will be right in the mix to claim the Malta Open title. It means that this year's Malta Open will see by far its strongest ever line up of players in what should be an enthralling few days of world class racketlon action.

As well as the top international players battling it out for this world tour title, the Malta Racketlon Open also has many other classes for players of all abilities and all ages. In the Men's B class, one down from the top draw, local Maltese player Simon Spiteri (former Maltese national badminton champion and now regular squash player) will be carrying home hopes as he battles it out against players from all over the world - the tournament has attracted entries from over 13 different countries.

Players with no experience of racketlon, but who play any of the four racketlon sports are very welcome to come and try the sport for the first time and play in any of the beginner classes. Please contact [email protected] before the entry deadline on 1st October.

It is also possible to come and watch the top players at the tournament for free at the Marsa Sports Club. Men's quarter-finals and Women's semi finals (Sat 13th Oct, at approx. 15.00), Men's semi finals (Sat 13th Oct at approx.. 19.00), Men's and Women's Final (Sunday 14th Oct at approx. 13.30).

All times and results can be followed by going to www.firtournamentsoftware.com and clicking on Malta Open.