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Credit: Badminton Photo
“We want to qualify for Paris”
Date: 3/22/2019 9:20 AM
Published by : Annika Langrock
2019 is a special year for Fabien Delrue on court: He has just began to play at senior level.

The French Doubles player spoke to Badminton Europe about his long-term goals, his partnership with William Villeger and how he combines his current studies with his tough training schedule. 

Three titles in one month – that was the biggest success of Fabien Delrue last year.

The 18-year-old won the European Junior Championships 2018 in Mixed as well as Men’s Doubles and can also call himself ‘European Junior Team Champion’, together with the French team. 


Read also: "I never saw such a young and ambitious group of people" - Imogen Bankier, Doubles coach of France

For 2019, Delrue has specific plans and huge ambitions. “William and I want to get more experienced at senior level this year. Maybe, we are able to reach the Top 50 in the world”, he said.  

New year, new level

The first senior tournament for the Men’s Doubles pair got underway in Lund in January – the RSL Swedish Open 2019.

Together with William Villeger, Delrue was reaching the round of 16, where the pair has been beaten by the later champions of the International Series tournament, Mathias Bay-Smidt and Lasse Mølhede. 


“I think, we have the level of playing at a tournament like the Swedish Open, even though most of the other players are more experienced and physically stronger", Delrue told Badminton Europe.

"We just need to collect more experiences and have to win some matches at this level”, he added.


After participating in the YONEX Swiss Open and the Orléans Masters that are getting underway this week, the pair has big goals for the future.

“We want to qualify for the Olympics in Paris. Maybe next year, we are also able to play at the European Championships at senior level and at the World Championships. But of course, we need to work hard for this”, the 18-year-old said. 

Train hard, study hard

Next to playing badminton, Fabien Delrue is also studying economics in France.

He started his studies at the end of last year, and they are going to get underway for the next three years, at least – a tough schedule for a young and ambitious badminton player. 


“I mostly have training sessions in the morning and in the afternoon, when I do not have to study or be in the university”, Delrue said. 

“So, I practise badminton two times per day during the weekdays. And then, on the weekends, I am also playing matches and tournaments”, he added. 
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