For many Belgian talents it was a valuable experience: an introduction to international top competition on their own soil – an important step in their sporting development.
From the first games a lot of Belgian promotion came on the mat. Emre Mutlu and Lieke van Parys, together with Tammi van Wonterghem and her French double partner Louis Morin, get rid of the striker in the mixed double. In the ladies ankle, six Belgian players came into action: Lea Dauphinais, Karla Henry, Lien Lammertyn, Lieke van Parys, Tammi van Wonterghem and Auriane Vasilevski.
The gentlemen ankle also had a strong Belgian occupation, with Seppe Daemers, Loic Gosset, Emre Mutlu, Jonah Quintens, Baptiste Rolin, Brent Stockman, Iljo van Dossen and Yaro van Delsen. The latter succeeded in getting a place on the main table through the qualifications, Yaro himself says the following: “Very nice feeling that tomorrow I can start both in the single and doubles in the main tournament. Nice to be able to continue the good flow of Slovenia (Van Delenen made it twice the quarter final) in my own country!”
So Thursday will be an important day for the Belgian camp. Eight countrymen then enter the main table:
· Gentlemen Ankle: Julien Carraggi (third series of heads) and Yaro van Delsen
· Ladies Ankle: Clara Lassaux (eighth seed)
· Gentlemen Dubbel: Iljo and Yaro van Dossen
· Ladies double: Lise Jaques & Lien Lammertyn and Fae Boonen & Lieke van Parys
They go full for a place in the next round and hope for the support of the home crowd. The tournament runs until Saturday – an excellent opportunity to see top players at work at work during this prestigious badmintone event.
Tickets are still available via: https://app.twizzit.com/v2/public/form/0fec2515bb57a0d445e00e50919fb136
