European Senior Championships Bring 1,500 Badminton Players to Cagliari
Nearly 1,500 athletes from across Europe and Israel gathered in Cagliari for the European Senior Championships, meetingpoint-jl.de reported. The continental badminton tournament ran from September 19 to 25, 2026, turning the Sardinian capital into a hub for senior-level competition across multiple age brackets.
Germany fielded the largest delegation at the tournament with approximately 250 participating athletes. Among them was a men’s doubles pair representing Burg and Halle, who entered the highly competitive over-60 division featuring a 64-team elimination bracket.
Opening Match Defeat in the Over-60 Doubles Bracket
The German pair opened their tournament campaign on the first day of competition against a duo from Norway. After dropping the first set 21–13, the players from Burg and Halle mounted a strong response in the second frame. They established a steady lead and held a 19–18 advantage, sitting just two points away from forcing a deciding third set.
Two minor lapses in concentration allowed the Norwegian opponents to shift the momentum. The Norwegian pair capitalized on the opportunity, securing the final two points to take the second set 21–19 and close out the match.
Preparation and County Administration Support
Despite the early exit, the German pair drew positive conclusions from their performance against top international competition, noting that they proved capable of playing on equal footing at the European level. The players extended their gratitude to the local county administration, whose decision to keep training halls open during the summer school holidays ensured uninterrupted preparation ahead of the championships in Sardinia.
With their first major international outing of the cycle concluded, the athletes returned home with fresh competitive experience and motivation for the upcoming domestic season.
Worth a look
