Until the end, the two badista brothers, Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov, will play their qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. For the moment, the youngest, Christo, has a valuable points lead and is virtually qualified. But there are still several weeks of tournaments where everything can still change.
In the “Race to Paris” ranking, which will determine the qualifiers for the badminton events at the Paris Olympic Games, the first French name to appear in the men’s singles is Christo Popov. He is in 21st place with 49,580 points. “It’s a ranking that fluctuates. When I perform, I go ahead and vice versa,” explains Christo. And in fact, the 21-year-old badista, licensed at the Fos-sur-Mer club, took a 2000 point lead over his brother, Toma Junior Popov, thanks to his victory at the German Open, his first title on the world circuit.
“It was a big week, with a lot of matches so it was really a big challenge. With everything that it requires mentally and physically, you had to find all these resources within yourself. It’s a very good week, I’m very proud of all the work we’re putting in.” And he knows how important this victory in Germany last week was: “These were very important points for Olympic qualification and for the ranking. We now continue forward.”
“We will push ourselves to perform”
His brother Toma is, for the moment, 26th in the ranking, with 47,425 points. Each tournament becomes important to grab even the smallest additional points. This week, at the French International Badminton Championships, organized at the Adidas Arena, Porte de la Chapelle, Toma lost in the first round, in two sets against a Singaporean player. He will therefore not pass in front of his brother at the end of the week. “I’m not really disappointed because the second set almost went in my favor,” Toma puts things into perspective. This tournament serves as a major dress rehearsal for the Games. The 25-year-old French badista discovered the future room for Paris 2024 this summer. “We see each other again, we plan ahead. Even if for the moment it is my brother who is qualified. I will do everything to surpass him and be qualified.”
Christo also lost in the first round of this test tournament with a view to the Olympics, against the world number two. “At the Olympic qualifying level, this week was not the best moment for the Popov Brothers, but we left everything on the field and that’s the most important thing.”
The battle promises to be tough between the two brothers. Rough but healthy, wants to remind the big brother. “We are experiencing all this very well, as since the start of qualifying we are going to push ourselves to perform as well as possible with my brother.”
Because this place at the Games is a real family affair. Toma Popov, the father and coach of the two boys, is in the coaching chair for every match. And obviously, it’s a subject of discussion. “We talk about it all the time. The ranking is as it is. We know that the difference is not big. But each time we tell ourselves that it is the best who wins.”
“I can’t wait for the qualification to end”
Both still have several weeks of tournaments which will end in particular with the individual European championships, where everything is likely to be played out in Saarbrücken in Germany in April. “I also can’t wait for the qualification to end. It’s been a very long year for both of us. We know that there are four or five weeks left and then the list will come out and we’ll see who will be qualified. But me too I’m going to fight until the end. It’s going to be a big battle, may the best win,” says little brother Christo. For their dad, they will have to manage this final stretch perfectly. “You don’t have to worry. You have to stay calm, do the job until the end. There are a few tournaments left, you have to give everything.”
In the meantime, both have a second goal: to qualify in men’s doubles for the Games. And here too, everything is not done. They are in competition with another French pair composed of Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée. The latter are ahead in the standings and thanks to their victory in the first round of the French Open, they take the advantage over the two brothers: “These are crucial points. Things can still happen and that’s the beauty of it. sport. We will try to continue playing badminton, doing what we know how to do. This is the end, we will give everything, win as many matches as possible and play our best level”, emphasize Ronan and Lucas. With their defeat in doubles in the first round, the Popov brothers know that they are letting their competitors take a big advantage. “They perform, it’s deserved on their part,” recognizes Christo. “We will do the best we can with our weapons. If they go further, so much the better. We will try to qualify with the draws we have. We will push to the end,” says big brother Toma. Answer on April 28, the end of Olympic qualification.
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2024-03-06 20:48:06
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