Macarena Izquierdo (Ibiza, 03-30-2006) was this weekend the true leader of the Spanish representation at the Spanish International U15 & U17 badminton held at the sa Blanca Dona pavilion. The 16-year-old Ibizan player won the mixed doubles title along with Yaidel Gil and silver in the individual tournament. After leading the European junior women’s doubles ranking for months along with Carmen Jiménez, the Ibiza Badminton Club midfielder sets herself the challenge of conquering the 2024 European Championship and qualifying for her first World Cup.
What has it meant to win gold and silver at home in a prestigious tournament like the Spanish International held on the island?
I’m very happy. The last time we won was in women’s doubles at a tournament in Belgium. Now I’m focusing on doubles, which is what I like the most. In individual I have been second and it has been exciting, it makes me want to continue fighting for future tournaments and for the Spanish Championship. I am very happy to have played for the first time with Yaidel Gil, who is two years younger. We have gotten along very well and we are a strong couple for future tournaments.
Five of the 14 medals for Spain have had an Ibiza flavor. Is the island confirmed as one of the best quarries in the country?
Yes, the truth is yes. Ibiza is going strong, before it was nothing but I would say that we have some of the best clubs in Spain. Many people are now testing and we have more help, although we would need more. Thanks to the ‘escoletas’ and the promotion and the work of the coaches, we make sure more kids sign up and don’t let them die. We have big teams with people of different ages, we do a great job in Ibiza and we are like a family.
For younger players, what does it mean that Ibiza is the scene of three international events in a row?
This had never been seen before, it’s incredible, first it was the Iberdrola of the majors that came stomping, with many people from outside, then the International U17 and now the best of all is the European U15, for which we have prepared incredible. What this is going to do is make badminton in Ibiza more known and known worldwide because people come from all over the place. This sport will be made more known.
Does Ibiza have favorites for the European podium again?
Yaidel Gil has a good chance of winning, many good players are coming to try. Álex Tur (Spanish International medalist) and Sofía García will also have chances. It would be nice if there were more people in the pavilion, over the weekend there were quite a few fans from the island and now for the European there will be many teams and families from abroad.
How long have you been passionate about this sport?
Since I started when I was 8 years old, a friend of mine signed up and told me that I should try it because I am very hyperactive, that I would end up tired. I tried it and I loved it, my mother said that she was going to bore me, because she bored me with everything, but I liked her a lot and there I keep fighting to be the best.
Despite being so young, you already accumulate many medals at a national and international level.
Yes, about three weeks ago we got the team bronze at the European Championships in Serbia, and I’ve won internationals in Slovenia and Belgium, where we came back after the break due to covid and swept it away. At the national level I have won and I have achieved medals in Spanish championships in different categories. What I like the most is traveling and if you do it with the people you love the most, it’s the best.
In fact, you have been number 1 in the European junior women’s doubles ranking, where is your ceiling in this sport?
I don’t know if we’re still first but we have been for a while. I want to continue with this right now. Before I didn’t know how long I would stay, also thinking about my studies, but after the European Championship I was left with a bitter feeling after losing at the first change in individual. It won’t be the next one until two years from now and I would like to win the European Championship in individual and team. I would also like to go to the World Cup that same year. For the European there are quite a few possibilities and I see good expectations for the World Cup.
Is following in the footsteps of Carolina Marín a utopia?
I think that it is not so impossible to achieve what she does, but you have to dedicate many hours to it and know what you want. It’s something she can’t get everyone, you have to be special. I know that I am not going to dedicate myself to it all my life, I have to continue my studies and it is very complicated, but I am going to fight as far as I can to get everything I can, and if it is to win another Spanish Championship or a European Championship, Welcome.
More than 200 cadets meet on the island for the European sub-15
After the celebration of the Spanish International for the absolute, sub-15 and sub-17 categories, tomorrow the European Championship sub-15 will put the finishing touch to the triple badminton event, for which more than 200 volantistas are summoned. The competition will be held between tomorrow and Sunday in the sa Blanca Dona pavilion, the epicenter of international badminton this September.
The European Under-15 Championship brings together the great promises of the continent. Athletes who are called to be the absolute champions of the future.
Medalists from previous editions include Thom Gicquel (IM Bronze 2014), Arnaud Merkle (DM Bronze 2014), Alexandra Bøje (DF & DX Gold 2014), Christo Popov (IM & DM Silver, 2016) and Alex Lanier (IM Gold). and Kaloyana Nalbantova (IF Bronze 2020).
All of them are players who stood out at an early age and are now shining at an international level.
This competition should have been held in February in Lahti, Finland, but was postponed due to the global pandemic situation. The assignment of this event to Ibiza was possible, once again, thanks to the involvement of the Consell and the Ibiza Town Hall to promote grassroots sports and to promote the island as a tourist and sports destination.
