Aire-sur-la-Lys, France – Rostrenen Badminton Club faced a tough test on Saturday, falling 6-2 to Volant Airois in a closely contested Top 12 interclub match. Despite the scoreline, the match was far from one-sided, with several matches going the distance and demonstrating Rostrenen’s resilience against a formidable opponent. The result leaves Rostrenen with operate to do as they aim to secure a playoff spot in the French badminton league.
The match, played in Aire-sur-la-Lys, saw Volant Airois assert their dominance early, but Rostrenen battled back, taking two crucial points and pushing their opponents in several other encounters. Arthur Siberil, speaking after the match, acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It was too unbalanced on paper, especially in singles, but there’s no disappointment taking two points is already a performance.”
Airois Secure Early Lead
Volant Airois quickly established a lead, winning the opening matches. The doubles pairing of Louis Ducrot and Ben Lane defeated Rostrenen’s Noah Haase and Jiahao Yu 21-16, 21-13. Harry Huang of Airois then overcame Leo Van Gysel in a three-game thriller, 21-10, 20-22, 21-08. The home side continued their strong start with a victory in the mixed doubles, as Lucas Renoir and Abbygael Harris bested Paul Tournefier and Flora Wang 21-19, 21-04, extending their lead to 3-0.
Rostrenen Fights Back
Despite the early deficit, Rostrenen refused to concede. Noah Haase, a key player for the team, engaged in a grueling battle against Julien Carraggi, ultimately falling 21-15, 25-23 in another three-set match. Flora Wang also put up a strong fight against Keisha Azzahra, pushing the higher-ranked player to three games before ultimately losing 21-17, 18-21, 21-17. These close matches highlighted Rostrenen’s determination and competitive spirit.
Rostrenen managed to secure two points on the day. Beiwen Zhang delivered a convincing performance, defeating Wen Yu Zang 21-12, 21-16. The final point for Rostrenen came in the mixed doubles, with Xuefei Qi and Beiwen Zhang winning a hard-fought match against Abbygael Harris and Flavie Vallet 23-21, 15-21, 21-18. This victory, secured even with the overall match outcome decided, demonstrated Rostrenen’s commitment to competing until the very complete.
What’s Next for Rostrenen?
While the defeat to Volant Airois was a setback, Rostrenen remains in contention for a playoff spot. Arthur Siberil emphasized that the team isn’t discouraged, stating, “We did what we could and we did it pretty well. We’re not unhappy with this result.” The team currently trails Volant Airois by one point, mirroring the situation Airois faced last season.
Rostrenen’s remaining schedule appears more favorable, with upcoming matches against Mulhouse and a trip to Aix-en-Provence. In contrast, Volant Airois faces a challenging path, with a match against league leaders Strasbourg and a final contest against Bordeaux. The upcoming weeks will be crucial for both teams as they vie for a place in the playoffs.
Match Results
- Louis Ducrot/Ben Lane (LVA) – Noah Haase/Jiahao Yu: 21-16/21-13
- Harry Huang (LVA) – Leo Van Gysel: 21-10/20-22/21-08
- Lucas Renoir/Abbygael Harris (LVA) – Paul Tournefier/Flora Wang: 21-19/21-04
- Ben Lane/Téa Margueritte (LVA) – Jiahao Yu/Xuefei Qi: 21-16/18-21/25-23
- Julien Carraggi (LVA) – Noah Haase: 21-15/25-23
- Keisha Azzahra (LVA) – Flora Wang: 21-17/18-21/21-17
- Beiwen Zhang – Wen Yu Zang (LVA): 21-12/21-16
- Xuefei Qi/Beiwen Zhang – Abbygael Harris/Flavie Vallet (LVA): 23-21/15-21/21-18
Rostrenen will look to bounce back in their next match against Mulhouse, aiming to capitalize on a potentially more favorable matchup and solidify their position in the Top 12 standings. Fans can follow Rostrenen Badminton Club’s progress and find official updates on their website and social media channels.
