Badminton. European Championship: despite Gicquel’s defeat in doubles, France victorious over the Netherlands

Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue lost in mixed doubles (Photo Olivier Louarn)

If the Rostrenoise Xuefei Qi was left to rest, Thom Gicquel held her place in mixed doubles.

European Championship in Aire-sur-la-Lys

For the first day of the European badminton championship in Aire-sur-la-Lys (Pas de Calais), the French team faced the Netherlands. The Rostrenoise Xuefei Qi, left to rest, is replaced by Léonice Huet.

At the opening of the event, Denmark, defending champion, dominated Ukraine (5-0). The Ukrainian of BC Rostrenen, Danylo Bosniuk (N.93 in the world), bowing, in particular, to the planetary number 1, Viktor Axelsen (6-21, 13-21), whom he faced for the first time.

France wins over the Netherlands

For the first singles meeting of the opposition between French and Dutch, Toma Junior Popov won against Mark Caljouw in three sets (21-14; 21-23; 21-14). Léonice Huet then quickly defeated her Baltic counterpart (21-13; 21-11) in 32 minutes.

The Popov brothers, Christo and Toma Junior won the men’s doubles (14-21 24-22 21-17). The only downside was the mixed doubles defeat of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue (21-19; 18-2; 12-2), against Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek.

France will face Bulgaria this Wednesday, March 15, and Germany on Thursday, as part of the group stage before the knockout matches.

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