Polish pair Milosz Bochat and Adam Cwalina are hoping for victory this week as top seeds in the men’s doubles in Bierun, Poland.
The Polish pair, ranked 16 in Europe, are hoping to regain the form that won them the Czech Open a year ago.
Their main opposition to the title is second seeds Peyo Boichinov and Ivan Panev from Bulgaria.
Schaefer Top European in the Men's Singles
In the men’s singles this week in Poland, Europe has four of the seeds, with German Kai Schaefer heading that list at number 2. Third seed Felix Burestedt from Sweden told Badminton Europe:
- I’m hoping for a lot of good matches and gain experience in Poland this week. I got to the semi-final of the Spanish International this year and that gives me a lot of confidence. There are a lot of good players playing in tournaments right now, so you always need to be ready.
Six European seeds in Women’s Singles in Women’s Singles
Europe is very well represented in the seedings of the women’s singles. The top European seed is Alesia Zaitsava from Belarus.
Zaitsava meets Sabina Milova in the first round, and then could well meet young England hope Abi Holden in round 2.
Holden says:
- I am hoping to get a good start to the season, I haven’t played this tournament before so I don’t know what to expect but hopefully I can perform well and get as far as possible.
Zaitsava also seeded in Women's Doubles
Zaitsava is also second seed in the Women’s Doubles. With a bye in the first round, they will meet either German pair Annabella Jager and Stine Kuspert or Polish duo Magdalena Kulsa and Zuzanna Parysz.
Top seeds in the women’s doubles Alzbeta Basova and Michaela Fuchsova also receive a bye in round one, after which, they could meet England’s Fee Teng Liew and Lizzie Tolman.
Polish Top seeds in Men's Doubles
Poland provides the top seeds in the men’s doubles, in the team of Milosz Bochat and Adam Cwalina. Bochat and Cwalina are ranked 16th in Europe and are in Poland following their last tournament earlier this month in Ukraine, where they reached the Quarter Final stage.
Bitman and Basova top seeds in Mixed Doubles
The top European seeds in the Mixed Doubles are European number 25 Jakub Bitman and Alzbeta Basova from the Czech Republic. Bitman is recovering from an injury and told me:
- I’m recovering from an achilles injury right now, so this is a part of my rehab, I’m aiming to get back to the highest level again. I hope my body reacts well to the tournament as I’m a bit short of match practice.
- I haven’t done much on-court training since we played in Ukraine. My medical team say I’m fine to play, so I’m hoping it doesn’t set me back in my recovery!
Fourth seeds Fee Teng Liew and Callum Hemming added about their chances this week:
- I hope that we can maintain a consistent high level, throughout the tournament. If we are able to do this then I think we have some good chances to do well this week.