Events

(Credit: Badminton Photo)
Preview - Russia
Date: 2/5/2019 4:30 PM
Published by : Tom Hazlewood

Russia have been emerging as one of the most powerful nations in European Badminton in recent years. Despite having never won a European Mixed Team Championship, the Russians have been one of the most impressive nations in recent history of the event.

Russia have in fact placed in the top three in the EMTC in all of the last five running’s of the competition. Four consecutive third place finishes from 2009 to 2015 was followed up with a runner up spot in 2017, so the Russians will be hoping that this could finally be the year where they claim the Gold medal which they so desperately crave.

From the 13th-17th February, Russia will get another chance to take their first ever gold in this event. To do so they will have to get past England, Germany and Ireland who have been drawn alongside them in Group 2.

The Russians will be confident of topping Group 2 when they travel to Denmark next week. They are expected to battle it out with England for top spot so the opening game with the English on the 13th February will be massively important to see who will make it to the final.

Squad

As for the squad, Russia boast a number of strong doubles pairings ahead of the competition. Men’s Doubles pair Ivan Sozonov and Vladamir Ivanov and the Women’s Doubles duo of Ekaterina Bolotova and Alina Davletova were all unbeaten in qualification and will be a massive factor if the Russians are going to make it to the final once again.

There have only been a few changes to the squad since the qualification stage in December where Russia dominated a group containing Scotland,Moldova and Ukraine. Most notably, Mixed Doubles pair Evgenij Dremin and Evgenia Dimova are in the squad for this one. The World number 27 pair weren’t in the squad back in December and are set to be battling it out with the recognised duo of Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova for the top spot throughout the competition, so it will be interesting to see which team gets the nod in the opener against England.

Potential team line-up

Men’s Singles – Vladamir Malkov

Women’s Singles – Evgeniya Kosetskaya

Men’s Doubles – Ivan Sozonov/Vladamir Ivanov

Women’s Doubles – Ekaterina Bolotova/Alina Davletova

Mixed Doubles - Evgenji Dremin/Evgenia Dimova

See the full squad list here

Russia’s confirmed match-ups

13/02/19 – England

14/02/19 – Germany

15/02/19 – Ireland

Book your tickets for EMTC 2019!


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