It ends in a bitter way for theItaly male the journey in qualifiers for the 2026 European Badminton Team Championships: a Baldoyle, Irelandthe Azzurri, on the last day of Subgroup 2 of Group 4they are reassembled and beaten by Spain by 2-3with the Iberian selection entering the final of the group against Ireland which will be up for grabs tomorrow the pass for the continental review.
In today’s tie Italy takes the lead with Fabio Caponio who takes advantage of the withdrawal of the Spaniard Pablo Abian, who reached the score of 16-21 21-12 15-9 for the blue, but to follow Enrico Baroni gives in the pass goes to Alvaro Leal, who wins 21-23 21-8 17-21 and scores the 1-1. The Azzurri take the lead again thanks to Luca Zhouwho beat Miguel Esteve 21-13 21-15 and sealed the 2-1 for Italy.
The doubles, however, are fatal for the Azzurri: Fabio Caponio/Giovanni Toti they are overcome by Daniel Franco/Rodrigo Sanjurjo, who win 15-21 24-22 15-21 and draw the score at 2-2, finally Matteo Massetti/Luca Zhou they were defeated by Ruben Garcia/Carlos Piris, who won 14-21 13-21 and gave Spain the point of final 2-3.
EUROPEAN TEAM QUALIFIERS BADMINTON 2026
Men’s Tournament – Group 4, Subgroup 2 (in Baldoyle, Ireland)
Italia-Spain 2-3
Fabio CAPONIO-Pablo ABIAN 16-21 21-12 15-9 retirement underway
Enrico BARONI-Alvaro LEAL 21-23 21-8 17-21
Luca ZHOU-Miguel ESTEVE 21-13 21-15
Fabio CAPONIO/Giovanni TOTI-Daniel FRANCO/Rodrigo SANJURJO 15-21 24-22 15-21
Matteo MASSETTI/Luca ZHOU-Ruben GARCIA/Carlos PIRIS 14-21 13-21
Results
Slovakia-Spain 1-4
Italia-Slovakia 5-0
Italia-Spain 2-3
Final ranking
Spain 2 Qualified to the Group 4 final
Italia 1
Slovakia 0
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