Van Delsen Brothers Exit Early at European Badminton Championships in Huelva
The Belgian campaign at the European Badminton Championships in Huelva, Spain, hit an early snag on Tuesday, as brothers Iljo and Yaro Van Delsen were eliminated in the opening round of the men’s doubles competition.
Facing a steep uphill battle against the Czech Republic’s Jiri and Ondrej Kral, the Van Delsen duo struggled to find their rhythm. The Czech pair, who entered the tournament as the seventh seeds and hold a BWF world ranking of 53, proved too dominant for the Belgians, securing a straight-sets victory with a score of 21-12, 21-10.
The result reflects the current gap in world standings, with the Van Delsen brothers currently ranked 124th in the world for doubles. Even as the exit is a disappointment for the pair, the Belgian contingent still has significant opportunities to advance in the singles categories.
Singles Hope Remains for Belgium
Despite the doubles setback, Belgium maintains a presence in both the men’s and women’s singles draws, with two players advancing directly to the second round.
In the men’s singles, Julien Carraggi remains the sole Belgian representative. The 25-year-classic Brussels native, currently ranked 55th by the BWF, received a first-round bye. Carraggi is scheduled to face Scotland’s Callum Smith (BWF 292) in the second round.
On the women’s side, Clara Lassaux (BWF 143) also bypassed the first round. However, her path to the quarterfinals is significantly more challenging. Lassaux is set to face the tournament’s fourth seed, Neslihan Arin of Turkey, who holds a world ranking of 35.
For those tracking live updates and brackets, Flashscore provides real-time results and fixture details for the athletes competing in Huelva.
Belgian Delegation Status: Huelva 2026
To provide a clear picture of where the Belgian team stands following Tuesday’s action, here is the current status of the key competitors:
| Player(s) | Event | BWF Rank | Status | Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iljo & Yaro Van Delsen | Men’s Doubles | 124 | Eliminated | N/A |
| Julien Carraggi | Men’s Singles | 55 | Active | Callum Smith (SCO) |
| Clara Lassaux | Women’s Singles | 143 | Active | Neslihan Arin (TUR) |
The focus now shifts to Carraggi and Lassaux as they attempt to keep Belgium’s hopes alive in the tournament. While the doubles exit is a blow, the rankings favor Carraggi in his upcoming clash with Smith, while Lassaux faces a true “David vs. Goliath” scenario against the highly-seeded Arin.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the Belgian team will be the second-round singles matches. Stay tuned for further updates from Huelva.
Do you feel Carraggi can make a deep run in the singles draw? Let us know in the comments below.
Related reading
