Par Aline Chatel
Published on May 5, 24 at 2:14 p.m. See my news Follow Sport in Caen
Some of the best badminton players on the planet will be visiting Caen next season. The Caen club, still a resident of Nationale 2 two years ago, invited itself among the elite of the discipline by winning its play-off match against Flume-Ille (3-5), Saturday May 4, 2024. After a only season in Nationale 1, a level after which it had long chased, the CBCC will be the only representative of Caen in the French first division in an Olympic sport in September 2024.
We have difficulty realizing this. When I arrived in Caen around fifteen years ago, the club was in the middle of the Regional 1 table. It’s completely crazy!
Romuald Legoubey, captain of the Conquerant Badminton Club of Caen
Romuald Legoubey, who previously played in Nationale 2, had joined Caen to begin his studies. “With a teammate, we said to ourselves: it’s a big city, there might be a way to do something. » The Conquerant Badminton Club of Caen has moved into competition mode. National 3, National 2, National 1 until the Grail, the Top 12.
“That’s the meaning of sport”
The promoted player was far from imagining such success at the start of the season. His status almost forced him to aim for maintenance. “We quickly saw that it had to do it. Getting on the podium seemed good to us. » Before the seventh day, out of ten, the possibility of a climb became very concrete. Caen was second and therefore virtually a barrier. Discussions began between the athlete and the administration.
We had to know if the club was ready to move up or not. The president came to see us. He told us: “the office has decided to play the sporty part, that’s the meaning of sport. We will react later.”
Romuald Legoubey
Caen could not miss such an opportunity in a very open group, behind the unbeatable leader Rostrenen. The Normans maintained their course of action. “Our team was solid and homogeneous. Everyone was at their level. Of the 80 matches we played (eight per day, editor’s note), I don’t even know if there were three poor performances. »
Girl leaders
In the play-off, Romain Eudeline, Clara Lassaux and Weronika Gorniak quite easily scored their team’s first two points. Caen led 3-1 and the game was well underway. But the men’s doubles and the first mixed doubles fell into Breton’s hands. Despite the victory of Sian Kelly and Clara Lassaux in the women’s doubles, the second mixed doubles would prove decisive. Caen led 4-3. Baptiste Lamirault and Weronika Gorniak beat Grégoire Bodin and Carla Dubois 2-1, winning the last two sets 21-19.
It was 50-50, against a team we knew very well. We lost against them last season. They were riding with us. They were missing a player, and our girls were stronger than theirs.
Romuald Legoubey
The Caennais knew how to play without pressure, “seriously and thoroughly, but making the most of it”. So here they are in the Top 12, where the big names are called Chambly and Fos-sur-Mer. “It’s going to be a discovery. That’s exciting ! We will strengthen the team, but all our current players will stay. The Top 12 is a bonus. »
Improve the structure
The club, which only has one employee, will enter a new world. “It will take more investment from everyone, more private partners too. For a club with a voluntary organization, this is a very different commitment. We will try to do things well. » The City of Caen has already assured the club of its support. You will have to find an approved room, which is not the case for the small Victor-Lépine gymnasium in which the CBCC has been operating for several years.
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The summer will be studious but the Conquerors can first savor their superb success, which is added to the rise of the reserve team in Nationale 2. French badminton has 200,000 members spread across 2000 clubs. Caen is one of the twelve best. For the territory, it’s historic!
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2024-05-05 12:25:12
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