“It’s a great pride“, Toma Popov Sr. readily admits. The family project set up for several years around Team Popov has just taken a first step with the officialization, this Wednesday, of the participation of the Touchen brothers in the Olympic Games: Toma Junior Popov will be present in singles and doubles with his brother Christo.It’s a real family reward for the double. We didn’t want any of us to stay home. It’s something that was close to our hearts“, confides the eldest of the siblings.
A finality expected since the end of the “Race to Paris” ranking on April 30. A deadline therefore favorable to the Popov brothers in doubles (for 29 points ahead of the Labar-Corvée pair after a correction of the world ranking made by the BWF after the European Championship) and to Toma Junior in singles at the end of an incredible sporting rivalry and spectacular between the brothers over the months.
Toma Junior: “Worthy of Netflix”
“It was worthy of Netflix, of a manga if we take into account all these incessant twists and turns with Christo. There was also the way I qualified for the Games by beating the best player in the world. (Viktor Axelsen, a semi-final du championship d’Europe). We thus kill three birds with one stone with the end of the European tour. I must be one of the only players in history to have succeeded in this somewhat crazy bet and to be present in both singles and doubles“, smiles Toma Junior Popov, the eldest of the siblings.
The expected conclusion of long hours on the court, to be doubled during each tournament in the four corners of the world, daily efforts to experience a week in Olympic version: the opening ceremony, the competition itself. There will, however, be no village for the French badists, who will be based at Insep.
Christo: “I have nothing to regret”
This May 15, 2024 will remain forever engraved for the two Fosséens. “I am very happy with my performances during this tour with my two extraordinary results (victory at the German Open, semi-finalist at the All England, Editor’s note). In simple terms, it smiled on my brother but I have nothing to regret. I gave everything during this qualifying year. I lacked the energy to finish the tour well. I learned much more in this qualifying year than in five years on the circuit in terms of play and consistency. In the end, it doesn’t matter. I know I have Los Angeles 2028 behind me and then I qualify in doubles. This was very important to us. The objective has been achieved, we are happy.”
It will now be a question of obtaining similar results in the weeks to come, starting with the final phases of the French championship which has been denied to the Provençal club since 2008 (Friday May 17 and Saturday May 18). “A semi-final at the All England, if that happens, I will never achieve such a performance again. This semi-final in England still represents a half at the Olympics. We must reproduce these performances as much as possible“, adds the 2024 French champion.
“Good bad ambassadors in France”
Move forward, work. These coming weeks will be devoted to this for the two brothers who experienced quite an emotional lift with the correction of the world ranking at the end of the European Championship and thus being the first French pair in the world ranking. “I go from potentially qualified in both events, to most qualified at all then qualified in one event. Playing in Paris as siblings is incredible for us. It will be a wonderful experience. It’s also good for our discipline I think we are good bad ambassadors in France.added Christo Popov.
It is now a question of continuing to perform in order to maintain the seeded status for the Olympic tournament which will be determined on July 9. This involves this Asian tour. The two brothers from Provence will have to be good, especially since they had to skip the tournament in Thailand (Super500) to participate in the national event. There will be three tournaments left to perform. Three events rich in points for the world ranking.
The French Federation is still asking for the repechage of the Corvée – Labar pair
In a press release published this Wednesday late afternoon, the French Badminton Federation confirmed the announced selection. While reaffirming its desire to see the Labar – Corvée pair exceptionally drafted, “in the name of sporting fairness and the values of Olympism” : “The FFBaD hopes to see this official selection enriched soon and continues to mobilize with the various authorities to obtain the qualification of the second male pair Lucas Corvée / Ronan Labar”.
2024-05-15 14:47:05
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