The Yonex French Open begins this Tuesday in Paris. This competition, which takes the form of a dress rehearsal before the Olympic Games, will bring together the best players in the world.
One of the major events in world badminton
Launched in 1986, the French Open Badminton has evolved to become one of the 12 flagship stages of the international circuit in 2007, renamed HSBC BWF World Tour in 2018. This tournament, ranked «Super 750» since 2018 – comparable to a Masters 1000 in tennis -, attracts the best players in the world until 2026 (at a minimum).
A world-class field
The new regulations of the BWF (Badminton World Federation) stipulates that category tournaments «Super 750» must be contested by the best players in the world, which explains the presence of the biggest names this year in Paris. This requirement concerns all five tables (men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles). In the singles table, the fifteen best in the world, including world number 1 Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) and the Indonesian Jonatan Christie, defending champion (winner in Rennes last October), are present. This same dynamic is observed among the women, where all the best players are also entered. The ten best-ranked pairs, in the men’s, women’s and mixed categories, will also try to shine on Tuesday.
The French will have to create the feat
Six French people/French pairs will be engaged against the best in the world. In the men’s singles, the two Popov brothers, Toma Junior (25th) and Christo Popov (27th) will try their luck and dream of an exploit at home. The youngest, Christo, will try to continue his momentum – after his first coronation on the BWF circuit on Sunday in Germany – but will have to face the Chinese Shi Yu Qi, second in the world rankings, in the first round. His big brother Toma Junior, said «Tomi», beaten in the first round in Berlin, will also try to create the feat in the first round against the Singaporean Jean Yew Loh (12th in the world). Among the women, no Habs had the required ranking to join this tournament.
Read alsoBadminton: on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Popov brothers shine at the French championships
In doubles, the Popov brothers (42nd) will try their luck against the Chinese Ji Ting He and Xiang Yu Ren (14th in the world). Lucas Corvée and Ronan Labar (36th in the world) will try to overthrow the Indonesian pair made up of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan (13th in the world). Two major challenges. Finally, the biggest chance – on paper – for the French to go far in this tournament is the mixed pair composed of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue (13th in the world). In the first round, they will try to dominate the Malaysians Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei (14th in the world), who beat them in India on January 16.
A dress rehearsal in the new Adidas Arena
Inaugurated on February 11 during a match between Paris Basketball and Saint-Quentin, this new hall, designed for the Olympic Games – the only one in Paris intramural -, will host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics next July-August . The best in the world will therefore take advantage of this meeting to take their bearings in the Arena Porte de La Chapelle, which will lose its prefix «Adidas» during the Games. It will also be, for the organizers, to make some corrections before welcoming the athletes in the best conditions between July 27 and August 5 (Olympics) and from August 29 to September 2 (Paralympic Games).
There are places left
Places are still available to attend the five days of competition in this new Parisian sports venue. The price of these is around €12, then €20 on Saturday and from €36 on the day of the final, Sunday.
2024-03-05 06:30:00
#French #Open #badminton #championships #foretaste #Olympics
