Huelva, Spain – Carolina Marín, one of badminton’s most decorated players, has received an invitation to participate in the 2026 European Championships, set to take place in her hometown of Huelva from April 6th to 12th. The invitation offers a potential return to competition for Marín after a significant injury sustained at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The onubense native, an Olympic champion from Rio 2016, a three-time world champion and a seven-time European champion, was granted one of the Spanish invitations by the European Badminton Federation, alongside fellow Spaniard Álvaro Leal. The news comes as Marín continues her recovery from a recent knee surgery.
Marín underwent a recent operation on the meniscus of her right knee on February 4th, 2026. Her team has indicated a recovery timeline of approximately six weeks, leaving her participation in the European Championships uncertain, but not impossible. The tournament holds special significance for Marín, as it will be held at the Palacio de Deportes Carolina Marín, named in her honor.
This event represents a potential final chapter in Marín’s illustrious career. She has repeatedly expressed her desire to conclude her competitive journey at the European Championships in Huelva, in front of her home crowd. The prospect of competing in her city, after a grueling recovery, adds an emotional layer to her potential return.
Alongside Marín, Clara Azurmendi will also represent Spain in the women’s singles draw, having earned her spot through her ranking in the international standings. Both Spanish players will face a challenging field, including formidable opponents such as Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt, Line Kjærsfeldt, Line Christophersen, and Julie Dawall Jakobsen, Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour, Turkey’s Neslihan Arın, Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova, and Germany’s Yvonne Li.
In the men’s competition, Álvaro Leal will be joined by Pablo Abián. They will face a strong lineup, highlighted by Denmark’s Anders Antonsen (ranked number three in the world) and France’s Christo Popov (ranked number five) and Alex Lanier (ranked number eight). Additional contenders include Toma Junior Popov of France, Rasmus Gemke of Denmark, and Nhat Nguyen of Ireland.
Spain will have two teams competing in each of the doubles events. Rubén García and Carlos Piris, along with Jacobo Fernández and Alberto Perals, will represent Spain in men’s doubles, qualifying based on their current ranking. They will compete against strong Danish pairs, including Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, and Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard, as well as English duo Ben Lane and Sean Vendy, and the French brothers Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov.
The women’s doubles competition will feature the Spanish pairings of Paula López and Lucía Rodríguez, and Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jiménez. Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva are considered favorites in this event, having already secured four European titles and two runner-up finishes.
Completing the Spanish contingent, Rubén García and Lucía Rodríguez, and Rodrigo Sanjurjo and Nikol Carulla will compete in mixed doubles. Among the strongest contenders in this category are France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, and a formidable Danish lineup consisting of Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje, Jesper Toft-Amalie Magelund, Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch, and Rasmus Espersen-Amalie Cecilie Kudsk. Germany’s Marvin Seidel and Thuc Phuong Nguyen, and Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Julie Macpherson are also expected to be competitive.
Huelva will be hosting the European Badminton Championships for the second time, having previously hosted the event in 2018, where Carolina Marín emerged victorious. The city also served as the venue for the 2021 BWF World Championships.
The upcoming championships are not just a sporting event for Huelva. they represent a celebration of badminton and a homecoming for one of its most celebrated athletes. The city is preparing to welcome over 200 athletes from more than twenty countries, creating a vibrant atmosphere for fans and competitors alike.
For those unfamiliar with the European Championships, the tournament is a biennial event that brings together the continent’s top badminton players to compete for the title of European champion. The competition features events in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The tournament format typically involves a group stage followed by a knockout phase, culminating in the final matches.
The official draw for the tournament is still to come, which will determine the specific matchups for each player, and team. However, the anticipation is already building as fans eagerly await the opportunity to witness some of the world’s best badminton players compete on Spanish soil.
As Carolina Marín continues her rehabilitation, all eyes will be on her progress. Her participation in the European Championships remains uncertain, but her determination and the support of her home crowd could provide the motivation she needs to make a triumphant return to the court. The next official update regarding Marín’s fitness is expected in late March, providing a clearer indication of her chances of competing in Huelva.
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