The National 3 badminton championship kicks off this Saturday, and for Arnage Mulsanne (BAM 72), the focus is squarely on survival. With a six-team division where the bottom two face relegation, and the top team earning a shot at promotion to Nationale 2, the stakes are high. However, BAM 72’s vice-president, David Bessière, emphasizes a pragmatic approach: “Promotion to N2 is tough, but it’s not our goal. Our objective is to maintain our position.”
Bessière acknowledges the challenge of navigating an unfamiliar division. “We only know one team in this new group, and we face them on Saturday. It’s very tough to look too far ahead; we’ll take it match by match.”
Last season’s second-place finishers are largely returning with the same roster, with two key changes. Thomas Fety joins from Angers, filling the spot left by Benoît Bessière, who is pursuing his studies in Lille. Additionally, 16-year-old Célia Rigot makes her debut for the team. the squad now comprises eight players, with six selected for each match. Bessière notes,”We finalize the team at the last moment after consultations.”
Each match features eight rubbers: two men’s singles, two women’s singles, one men’s doubles, one women’s doubles, and two mixed doubles. The club prioritizes a strong team spirit over financial incentives. “We’re not actively recruiting, but we welcome anyone who genuinely wants to be part of the team,” Bessière states.”We want all competitors to be on an equal footing.no bonuses are paid, even though money is gradually becoming a factor at this level. This is crucial for the atmosphere. We primarily invest in training and aim for self-sufficiency.”
For thier opening match on Saturday, BAM 72 will be without their top player, Titouan Vitrai.
The current squad includes: Fety, Lucas Boilet, and Maëlle Le Meur.
