The very nice course of Kim Schmidt was logically stopped in two sets (9-21, 12-21) by the Spanish Carolina Marin, a reference in the discipline.
For the two Luxembourgers competing in the badminton event of these European Games, the main thing was already to participate. Having the chance to be guaranteed to play three group matches was for Jérôme Pauquet and Kim Schmidt the certainty of gaining experience when they are only 19 years old each. If, for the Luxembourg representative, business was very complicated with three defeats in two rather dry sets, his compatriot, for her part, managed a superb run.
From her first match, against the Slovenian Petra Polanc (WR 138), the young Grand Ducal player demonstrated her stubbornness. Dominated in the first set (11-21), she didn’t give up and completely reversed the situation (21-6, 21-18). The next day, she again dominated in three sets the Austrian Katrin Neudolt (WR 240), lower ranked than her in the hierarchy (WR 216). After winning the first set (21-13), she suffered the same fate in the second (13-21), but found the resources to dominate the last (21-11). With her two victories, she was already guaranteed to qualify for the round of 16 of the competition. Her third match, against world No. 16, Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt, was logically much more complicated (5-21, 6-21).
Face to face with number 1
It remained to be seen who she was going to face. And the least we can say is that the fate did not really favor her, since she inherited the No. 1 of the tournament, the Spanish legend Carolina Marin, Olympic champion in Rio, triple champion of the world, quadruple European champion. In short, a monster: “It’s a shame to have fallen right away against her. Maybe against a less strong player, I would have had a chance.
Largely dominated in the first round (9-21), Kim Schmidt is not impressed. She bravely tries her luck and can even say that she led against Marin, since she scored the first point of the second set. A set where the young Luxembourger will stand up to her rival until halfway, before the Iberian escapes definitively (12-21).
A gap with the very high level
But at the end of this match, it is the satisfaction that could be read in the eyes of the Luxembourger: “I think I can be proud of myself. I had two matches against opponents who were about my level and two others against the top 20 in the world, I think the mix of the two was good. What make her want to repeat the experience, she who was facing such strong players for the first time: “Usually, they are not in the same tournaments as me. It was certainly the first and the last time that I met Carolina Marin.
She was able to measure the gap that separates her from the very high level: “The speed of exchanges is much greater. It goes much faster. We have much less time to make the right decision when hitting the wheel. Carolina was always very early on the wheel, while I was late. They make very few mistakes, including when they are late. And tactically, they are much more advanced than me. Enough to motivate the young woman to go back to work: “My goal is to play at this level one day. It is therefore important to train properly. To put quality in these trainings.
A huge leap in the world rankings
In the meantime, before taking the direction of Mexico City and Aruba this summer, to compete there, like his compatriot Jérôme Pauquet, in two lesser tournaments, Kim Schmidt’s superb career will bring him big profits. With a gigantic leap in the world ranking: “My trainer told me that I was going to find myself around the 150th place in the world. It’s a lot !” His highest ranking so far was 189th, last March. With this place, she hopes to be able to enter more easily into tournaments for strong. But she doesn’t know yet if that’s what she wants: “You have to ask yourself the question: does it make sense if it’s to get knocked out in the first round. Maybe it’s better to train well. And if I do, the results will follow.”
In the meantime, if the COSL is looking for a standard bearer, given his background and while waiting to see what will happen in triathlon, fencing or shooting, something tells us that Kim Schmidt would have quite the profile . Imminent response.
His journey
In hens
Bat Petra Polanc (Slo/WR 138) 2-1 (-11, 6, 18)
Bat Katrin Neudolt (Aut/WR 240) 2-1 (13, -13, 11)
Is beaten by Mia Blichfeldt (DAN / WR 16) 0-2 (-5, -6)
Round of 16
Is beaten by Carolina Marin (ESP/WR 6) 0-2 (-9, -12)
2023-06-30 07:26:38
#proud
