“My goal was to play the Swiss championships in Brig, now it’s just a bonus,” said Saviésan Yoann Freysinger with a sense of accomplished duty. The one who has been defending the colors of Olympica-Brigue for several seasons now has pulled out all the stops in men’s singles during the qualifications for the Swiss championships which took place in Yverdon-les-Bains this weekend. He has thus validated his ticket for the finals which will take place “at home” at the Olympica-Brig sports center on February 1st and 2nd.
Three Sédunois and three Brigois
Both Bas-Valais and Haut-Valais will be represented by three members in two weeks. On the Sédunois side, Sarah Piffaretti did not need to make the trip to the canton of Vaud, she who was already qualified in mixed doubles alongside her club partner Cyril Hohl and among the ladies with Yverdonnoise Céline Bloch, thanks to a classification which automatically granted him a place in the main draw. The doubles specialist was joined by the surprising Alexandre Gilliéron, who qualified in both men’s and mixed doubles.
Note that Chalaisard Alexandre Briguet (BC Sion) did not go far to snatch the precious sesame in men’s singles. The 17-year-old badist was defeated in the last round of qualifying against an opponent within his reach after three hotly contested sets.
Olympica-Brigue will be represented by Marion Varrin, Laura Blumenthal and Yoann Freysinger.
At home, the Valaisans will certainly not be among the favorites for a medal. However, a surprise cannot be ruled out.
Ladies singles: Marion Varrin (Olympica-Brig).
Men’s singles: Yoann Freysinger (Olympica-Brig).
Double ladies: Sarah Piffaretti / Céline Bloch (Sion/ Yverdon); Marion Varrin / Eugénie Chapuis (Olympica-Brig/Courrendlin).
Double gentlemen: Alexandre Gilliéron / Jan Rouiller (Sion/ Villars-sur-Glâne).
Mixed doubles: Sarah Piffaretti / Cyril Hohl (Sion); Céline Andri / Alexandre Gilliéron (Schmitten /Sion); Laura Blumenthal/Dominik Bütikofer (Olympica-Brig/Zürich).
