Another unprecedented performance for the badminton French !
This Saturday, December 20 in Hangzhou, Christo Popov became the first Tricolor to qualify for the final of BWF World Tour Finals. The Frenchman easily beat Naraoka Kodai (21-19, 21-8) to continue his epic in the tournament which brings together the eight best players of the year. His level of play has been exceptional since the start of the week with three victories over players from the top 5 in the world in the group stage: Anders Antonsen (n°3), Kunlavut Vitidsarn (n°2) and Jonathan Christie (No. 5). The world No. 8 was therefore almost a favorite against the Japanese, whom he is ahead of in the global hierarchy.
The badista from Fos-sur-Mer assumed this status with an authoritarian victory.
The first round was tight with several series that could have tipped it one way or the other. Naraoka Kodai led 8-4, but nine points later it was Christo Popov who had the advantage leading 12-9. The latter was again led before achieving the last, and most important, series, the one which allowed him to take the set.
The hardest part was done for him. The 23-year-old badista spent the entire second round being in front of the scoreboard to fold the match in 50 minutes: 21-19, 21-8.
This victory allowed him to write the history of French badminton, but above all it offers him the opportunity to win a major global badminton title. He is now waiting for Kunlavut Vitidsarn or Shi Yu Qi, the first two in the world, the last two world champions, for a match which could allow him to push the limits of a French team which no longer has one.
Thanks to Christo Popov, the Blues have the opportunity to end in style a season which notably saw Delphine Delrue et Thom Gicquel get on the global podium and two players move into the world top 10 in men’s singles.
