Carolina Marín cataloged this 2021 that has just begun as her “most ambitious year”. With the Tokyo Games in summer and the World Cup in Huelva at the end of November as big goals, the 27-year-old Olympic badminton champion was quick to get going. On New Year’s Day he was already exercising with his team in Madrid and on the 4th he traveled to Bangkok, where this Tuesday begins the first big date of the season, the Yonex Thailand Open, Super 1,000 tournament (the highest category of the circuit), in which the Spanish, fifth seeded, will make its debut this wednesday against the French Xuefei Qi, 37th racket in the world.
Bangkok will be the epicenter of badminton this January. It will host three major events consecutively in bubble format. After this first tournament that takes place from Tuesday to Sunday, another version of the Thai Open starts on the 19th, the Toyota Open, also with the Super 1,000 category. The third stop will be the World Tour Finals, the tournament for masters of this sport, scheduled from 27 to 31.
A marathon of matches with which the Huelva woman hopes to draw the first conclusions. Facing the tournament that begins today, an appointment that she has never conquered, Carolina makes it clear that “A title is always a joy, but this time it is not so much about winning as about regaining feelings.”
However, the world badminton calendar came to a halt after All England in March last year and only a few tournaments have been played since October. “All the players are looking forward to getting back to racing and seeing each other again. I am excited to coincide with my rivals, “says the Andalusian. In fact, these appointments from Thailand will not serve to improve his position in the Olympic classification (which will determine the seeds in Tokyo), since this ranking is frozen until March. It will be resumed at the Swiss Open (March 2-7).
And that as long as the pandemic allows the calendar to develop normally, so the Spanish takes this start of the season as an opportunity to “enjoy.” And, by the way, see how the rivals are: “We’ve all had different training methods and no one really knows how it comes down. We’ll see how things go. Anyone can win any tournament, any match … I want to make sure I’m ready.” Because, although the most important of this season is yet to come, Carolina is already underway.
Peñalver, before his great opportunity
Luis Enrique Peñalver will be the other Spanish representative at the Yonex Thailand Open. The 24-year-old from Toledo, 69th in the world ranking, was awarded a place for this tournament thanks to last-minute casualties. An opportunity to shine in a great tournament of the highest category, although the Spanish, yes, will have a very tough start today. His first rival will be the local Kunlavut Vitidsarn, a very young 19-year-old player who became a three-time junior world champion and is currently 13th in the absolute ranking.
