Flume Ille Badminton Secures Crucial Top 12 Victory Over Caen

Saint-Grégoire, France – Flume Ille Badminton (FIB) delivered a commanding performance against Caen in a Top 12 badminton match, securing a 5-3 victory that significantly boosts their chances of finishing fourth in the league. The win, achieved on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Ancien Palais des Sports in Caen, was particularly important as FIB president Serge Bodin had previously stated that a victory would “almost guarantee” a fourth-place finish – a key objective for the season.

Dominant Start in Doubles

The evening began favorably for the home side, with the FIB pairs of Gicquel/Crespel and Kersaudy/Rodriguez demonstrating their strength in the doubles matches. Gicquel and Crespel overcame Schmitt/Kelly with a score of 21-18, 20-22, 21-17, while Kersaudy and Rodriguez defeated Dubois/Gaudreau 21-17, 21-15. This strong start provided a solid foundation for FIB as they moved into the individual matches.

Mixed Results in Singles

The singles matches presented a more varied outcome. Inès Villard faced a tough challenge from Poland’s Weronika Gorniak, ultimately falling in three sets (17-21, 21-18, 21-19) despite a competitive showing. Carla Dubois also fought hard against Belgium’s Clara Lassaux, ranked 144th globally, but could only secure one set in a 21-13, 13-21, 21-14 defeat. However, Erwin Kehlhoffner restored FIB’s advantage with a decisive victory over Thomas Schmitt, winning 21-17, 21-14.

FIB’s Strength in Men’s Doubles

The FIB duo of Gicquel and Kersaudy continued their impressive form, dominating their match against Dubois and Lamirault with a score of 21-8, 21-13. Captain Bastian Kersaudy highlighted the team’s confidence in their men’s doubles pairings, stating, “We knew that with Thom [Gicquel] in particular, we could gain an advantage in the men’s matches.”

Close Contests in Women’s and Men’s Singles

The women’s doubles saw a closely contested match, with FIB’s Crespel and Gautier ultimately losing to Kelly and Gaudreau 21-13, 20-22, 21-12. This result narrowed the gap, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of FIB before the final men’s singles match. The decisive match featured Raphaël Chenu against Bourroum, both ranked within the top 20 in France. Chenu proved to be the more incisive and accurate player, securing a 21-12, 21-16 victory and sealing the win for FIB.

Looking Ahead for Flume Ille Badminton

With the win, FIB now stands poised to achieve their season goal of a fourth-place finish. Captain Bastian Kersaudy expressed optimism, stating, “The maintenance is secured but we wish the 4th place, we have the means to do it. For a first season at this level, it’s very good.” The team’s performance demonstrates their growing competitiveness within the Top 12 league.

Match Details: FIB – CBC Caen: 5-3

Doubles mixtes: Gicquel/Crespel bat Schmitt/Kelly: 21-18, 20-22, 21-17; Kersaudy/Rodriguez bat M. Dubois/Gaudreau: 21-17, 21-15.

Simples dames: Lassaux bat C. Dubois: 21-13, 13-21, 21-14; Gorniak bat Villard: 17-21, 21-18, 21-19.

Simples messieurs: Kehlhoffner bat Schmitt: 21-17, 21-14; Chenu bat Bourroum: 21-12, 21-16.

Doubles dames: Gaudreau/Kelly bat Crespel/Gautier: 21-13, 20-22, 21-12.

Doubles hommes: Gicquel/Kersaudy bat M. Dubois/Lamirault: 21-8, 21-13.

Flume Ille Badminton will look to continue their momentum as they progress through the Top 12 season. Further updates on their schedule and performance can be found on the Flume Ille Badminton website.

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