It’s the match of a life, of a career. The Fosséen Toma Junior Popov achieved a feat in capital letters by inviting himself this Saturday to the final of the European Championships against Anders Antonsen by dominating the world bad star, Viktor Axelsen (21-19, 17-21, 21- 9).
A deserved victory against the reigning world and Olympic champion which ends the race for qualification for Paris-2024. The Provençal with four victories on the world circuit will be the French representative in Paris thanks to his qualification for the final. The happiness of some makes the misfortune of others since this performance allows him to steal the place at the Games from his younger brother Christo who was eliminated during the first round of this continental competition. But two brothers who offered a race for Olympic qualification of great beauty with perpetual changes in the place of French N.1 in the race.
It is therefore this XXL feat which allows Toma Junior Popov to qualify for his first continental final. He had taken the lead during the first round, a momentum which he confirmed in the final (21-19). If Axelsen is not the world No.1 for nothing (17-21), the unthinkable happened. Toma Junior Popov walked on this last round, determined not to leave any shuttle easy (9-17). There was only one player on the court. The prospect of flying to Paris increased the motivation of Tomi Popov who outclassed Axelsen (9-21) in the last round. Enough to smile, enjoy and hug your father coach a few moments after this victory. “I had the best match of my career,” confided Toma Junior Popov, who is not thinking about the Olympics. “For me, the most important thing will be the final on Sunday.” A meeting that he will play against another Dane, Anders Antonsen who made short work of the Finn Joakim Oldorff (21-11, 21-11)
2024-04-13 19:24:37
#Sports #Badminton #European #championship #feat #Olympic #qualification #Toma #Junior #Popov
