The Rise of the Popov Brothers: A French Badminton Success Story

The Lebrun brothers continue to make headlines in France with their disconcerting performances in table tennis. But racket in hand, France has another brotherhood who are making their place among the world elite in their discipline a few months before the Olympic Games. It’s badminton and it’s about the Popov brothers, with Toma Junior (25 years old) and Christo (22 years old). And if the race for Paris 2024 has become in recent months a thrilling fratricidal duel between the two brothers – who are both in the world Top 25 -, Christo, the youngest, has taken a crucial lead while the France will only have one ticket for the Olympics in singles.

In recent weeks, Christo Popov has even amazed everyone. Junior European champion in 2020 and junior world number 1 that year, the Sofia native set the tone at the beginning of March by winning his first World Tour title during the German Open (Super 300). Having passed his brother in the world rankings at that time, he then did it again by making history in Birmingham two weeks ago for his first participation in the All England (Super 1000). Impressive throughout this legendary event, he became the first Frenchman to reach this stage in this tournament which is the equivalent of a Grand Slam in tennis. “It’s historic for me and for France” savored the young Habs.

The power of their family cocoon is at the heart of their success

While only Brice Leverdez had achieved such a feat for the bad tricolor by reaching the final four at the Danish Open in 2016, Christo Popov has clearly changed dimension in recent weeks, to the point of now having nearly 5,000 points more than his brother in the world rankings to have a key lead in the race for the Games, which ends on April 28. “It seems impossible today that Toma will turn things around” during the last two qualifying tournaments, summarizes Léa Palermo, gold medalist in women’s doubles at the Mediterranean Games in 2018 and consultant for Eurosport for the Games. But if the youngest has taken the upper hand and while they still have their small chance of going to Paris in the men’s doubles, their success is above all a family story.

Arriving in France in 2003, Toma and Christo were immediately immersed in the world of badminton by their father, a former Bulgarian champion. And since then, they haven’t let go of each other, as they share the French champion titles since 2022. “They train together every day. It’s their dad who trains them in Fos-sur-Mer. The power of this family cocoon is at the heart of their success,” explains Léa Palermo. “There is competition between us, every day, every minute. It is this competition that pulls us to the top. It is one of our great strengths,” confirmed Christo in SportMag a few years ago .

Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov in 2023

Credit: Getty Images

They are completely different

If this precious daily proximity pushes them upwards, Toma and Christo are on the other hand not simple copies. “In the style of play, in the behavior or their personality, they are completely different, Léa Parlermo tells us. Their father explains that he coaches them in completely different ways. ‘Tommy’ is a very powerful player with a wingspan very important. He will be able to score points more easily thanks to his power and his large size. Conversely, Christo is about speed, instinct or creativity. He has crazy technical ease.”

And if a third brother – Boris, 15 years old – has also taken the path of flying, these differences in styles are also their strength when it comes to playing doubles, where they were crowned French champions this year at home in Fos- sur-Mer but are behind the pair made up of Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée for the Games (3000 points less in the Race). “They are both very complementary,” confirms Léa Palermo.

Paris 2024? “Christo showed that he must be counted on”

Installed in the Top 30 in the world, they in any case have a bright future ahead of them. “We can count on them in the coming years while knowing that in badminton, you can still be very good after 30 years,” announces Léa Palermo. But for Paris 2024 and waiting to see if they will succeed in sublimating themselves to reverse the trend in doubles during the last tournaments counting for the “Race To Paris”, Christo’s latest outings in singles blow a wind of hope for the Games, where a surprise can no longer be ruled out.

“Between his performance in Germany and at the All England, which is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, he makes a date for the Games, confirms Léa Palermo. series and will have to come out big from the start. However, if everyone already had him on their radars, he showed that he must be counted on. And if he confirms his recent performances which have allowed him to gain confidence, the Badiste Douche could then make history again by winning France’s first Olympic medal. And make this family success a reality in the most beautiful way.

2024-03-25 22:46:00
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