Pradines Badminton Dominates Youth Circuit in Figeac; Club Hits New Growth Peak

The Pradines badminton club has solidified its position as a powerhouse in the Lot department, delivering a sweeping performance at the recent “doubles” stage of the Circuit Départemental Jeunes 46. On Sunday, April 5, the club sent 35 youth athletes—ranging from “minibad” to junior levels—to Figeac, claiming a staggering array of titles across multiple age brackets.

The youth contingent, which represented half of the 70 players engaged by the club, demonstrated a depth of talent that spanned nearly every competitive category. This surge in podium finishes is not an isolated event but the culmination of a strategic growth phase that has seen the club’s membership double over the last decade.

Youth Sweep: Gold, Silver, and Bronze in Figeac

The results from the Figeac event highlight a comprehensive development pipeline within the club. Pradines secured gold medals in six different youth categories, proving their dominance in both men’s and women’s doubles.

In the U11 division, Timéo Boumbaly and Pablo Chatelin-Vavasseur took the top spot in DH (Double Hommes). The success continued in the U13 category, where Oscar Fournié and Solal Rascouailles won the DH title, while Margaux Lartigue and Lana Ciecko secured victory in DD (Double Dames).

The older youth categories mirrored this success. Valentin Lartigue and Eden Poteau claimed gold in DH U15, and Matéo Monasse—partnering with Martin Esteuille from Bouriane—won the DH U17 title. The youth sweep was capped off by Théo Prévost and Nathan Dussillol, who took first place in DH U19.

Beyond the gold, the club’s depth was evident in the silver and bronze finishes. Aurore Larguille and Maélyne Guirado (DD U13), Anna Boumbaly (U15) and Laura Prévost (U13) in DD U17, and the duo of Alex Soupa and Cédric Carles in DH U19 all earned silver medals. Juliette Durand Leclerc and Amélia Cuche rounded out the medal count with a bronze in DD U11.

Adult Success and Regional Ambitions

While the youth players dominated in Figeac, the club’s adult athletes as well found success in regional competitions. In Saint-Jean (Haute-Garonne), Lisa Smaniotto and Theo Klein secured a victory in the Double mixte Série 3. Théo Klein furthered his individual success by reaching the finals in SH (Simple Hommes) série 4 at the same venue.

Additional success was found in Arpajon-sur-Cère, where the pairing of Maya Kieffer Lacombe and Léo Valéry finished second in the Double mixte série 2.

The club is now shifting its focus toward higher-tier competition. The regional team is scheduled to participate in the R2 play-offs next weekend in Gigean (34), marking a critical step in the club’s ascent within the regional rankings.

A Club at Capacity: The Rise of Pradines Badminton

The recent trophy haul is the visible result of a massive expansion in the club’s infrastructure and popularity. Over the past ten years, Pradines Badminton has doubled its membership, reaching 200 adherents. This growth makes it the largest contingent in the Lot department, which hosts approximately 800 licensed players across eleven affiliated clubs.

The demand for the sport has become so intense that the club has reached a saturation point. Baptiste Dajean, who serves as the coach for Pradines and Zem’Bad in Montat, as well as a salaried employee of the departmental committee, noted that for the first time, the club has had to refuse new members, with slots filling up as early as October. This includes adult sessions, which are typically less crowded than youth programs.

To manage this influx, the club utilizes multiple facilities, including the recently renovated halle des sports Willy-Etiève in Pradines, as well as gymnasiums in Cahors and Espère.

The Pipeline: From Detection to Podium

The dominance seen in April was paved by a rigorous preparation schedule throughout the early months of 2026. In January, the club focused on “departmental detection” in Figeac, where 22 players under the age of 11—categorized as “minibads” (under 9) and “chicks” (under 11)—underwent agility, motor skills, and sports knowledge evaluations under the guidance of Dajean.

This early identification process allowed top talents to advance to the regional stage of the detection program in Rabastens (81) at the end of March. The Lot badminton committee hosted specialized training stages from March 3 to March 5 at the Pradines sports complex to prepare athletes for the departmental championships.

This structured approach—combining early detection, intensive training stages, and a high volume of competitive entries—has created a sustainable model for success that is currently paying dividends across all age groups.

The next major milestone for the club will be the R2 play-offs in Gigean. As the club continues to outgrow its current facilities, the focus remains on maintaining this competitive edge while managing an unprecedented surge in local interest.

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