Toma Popov, rising star of French badminton, lost in the semi-final of the European Championships in Madrid on Friday, winning the bronze medal.
Toma Popov, rising star of French badminton, lost in the semi-final of the European Championships in Madrid on Friday, winning the bronze medal, while Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue qualified for the mixed doubles final.
The eldest of the Popov brothers lost after a 1h10 fight against the Dane Anders Antonsen (21-16, 19-21, 21-15), world No.3 and seeded No.2 in the tournament.
He had been eliminated the day before with his brother Christo in doubles by the Scots Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall (21-16, 21-13), in the quarter-finals this time.
By winning bronze in men’s singles, “Tomi” Popov equals the performance of Brice Leverdez, in 2018, already in Spain (Huelva).
The mixed doubles made up of Gicquel and Delrue are sure to do better on Saturday: they beat the Dutch Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek in the semi-finals (21-19, 21-15) and will face the Germans Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Lohau in the final on Saturday. in the hope of becoming the first French people to be crowned European champions.
