The French men’s badminton team in silver at the European Championships
Nothing to do for the badminton Blues, dominated by Danes who are far too strong and realistic, but who leave the European Team Championships with a nice silver medal.
If the women had to settle for bronze, the French men’s badminton team had won the right to compete in the final of the European Team Championships. Only the second in the history of French badminton, but the Blues were not favorites. Denmark, which had won the 8 editions of this competition, remained the big favorite.
Even in the absence of world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, the Danes could start No. 4, Anders Antonsen, for the first match against Toma Junior Popov. Leading 5-0 in direct confrontations, and natural favorite, the Scandinavian had no reason to doubt. And he was right. A conqueror, he raised his voice when necessary, disgusting the Frenchman on certain rallies to secure a 21-15 victory, 21-15 that couldn’t be more logical.
Hard for the Blues, and the doubles Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, former vice-world champion pair, represented an obstacle on paper insurmountable for Lucas Corvée and Ronan Labar. And this was the case on the pitch, the Blues clearly not being ridiculous, but a little too fair in the important moments of the match. In the end, the French pair lost 21-13, 21-13 and defeat then became inevitable.
Unless there is a big performance from Christo Popov against Rasmus Gemke. And it was on the way when the Frenchman started off with a bang, seemingly going for a big number, winning the first set and leading 16-7 in the 2nd. But he will gradually decline, twist his ankle and finally give up 14-21, 22-20, 21-9, not without coming within two points of victory. France therefore lost 3-0 in the final, an agreed result, but which reaffirms the position of the Blues within European badminton.
2024-02-18 17:21:54
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