For its 12th consecutive season in the Top 12, the highest French level, Red Star Mulhouse Badminton will finish in 3rd place in the ranking, despite a final away match against Aix Université Club Badminton (Saturday April 20). Two of its top players, Margot Lambert and Thom Gicquel, also struck a big blow this weekend at the European badminton championships.
“It’s a mixed season when, very objectively, it’s surely the best team we’ve had since the creation of the club. But we were never complete because there are always choices to make between interclub competitions and international competitions. » With the Paris Olympic Games in their sights, the players of Pascal Ziegler, president of the Red Star Mulhouse Badminton (RSMB) had an extremely busy schedule with numerous international competitions and were therefore not able to be present at all the interclub meetings. “We had the opportunity to do better, so it’s a little frustrating. Afterwards we also understand that players prioritize international individual competitions,” explains Pascal Ziegler. Result: after winning the bronze medal last year, Red Star Mulhouse Badminton will not play in the play-offs this season and will finish 3rd in their group. “We would have had a good card to play in these big matches,” adds the president.
Mulhouse residents at the Olympic Games
Catherine Kohler After shining this weekend at the European Championships, Tom Gicquel will participate this summer in the Paris Olympics.
Positive point on the other hand, several players from his squad should participate in the Paris Olympics This year. At Red Star Badminton, two players have already ensured their qualification: Tom Gicquel, after those in Tokyo in 2021, will participate in his second Olympic Games in mixed doubles, as well as Margot Lambert in women’s doubles (read below). In total, 172 places are awarded for all the events (men’s singles and women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s and mixed) of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The list will be finalized in a few days, on April 28. “The number of places is very limited. These are the 10 best results that are taken into account. For doubles for example, there are only 16 pairs that are qualified, while having to respect a certain number of criteria. It’s really very difficult,” says Pascal Ziegler.
Record d’affluence
If Red Star Mulhouse Badminton continues to attract big names in badminton and play at a very high level, the club, to continue to develop, aims to attract “a wider audience”. “We have significant room for maneuver, Mulhouse residents need to come and watch badminton. However, we had the highest attendance in the history of the club against Fos-sur-Mer (Editor’s note: 6-2 victory for Mulhouse on March 23). 250 people were present in the stands. It’s obviously a modest figure but it’s a great turnout in the world of badminton,” concludes Pascal Ziegler. Enough to give hope for a fuller regional sports center, starting next season.
Margot Lambert and Thom Gicquel on the roof of Europe
Just over 100 days before the Olympic Games, for which they are qualified, Margot Lambert and Thom Gicquel struck a big blow at the European Badminton Championships this weekend in Saarbrücken. By beating the Danes Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boke (21-16, 21-15) on Saturday, the mixed pair Thom Gicquel (RSMB) and Delphine Delrue (Chambly) brought France its first European badminton title. Sunday, Margot Lambert (RSMB) and Anne Tran (Paris) imitated them by winning against the Bulgarians Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva (16-21, 21-17, 21-11), thus winning the European title in women’s doubles.
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