The French player is no stranger to European mixed doubles triumphs, and now he will be taking on the challenge together with Anne Tran. Will he get to win a medal once again?
With the European Championships in spring and the Olympics in the summer, 2021 will undoubtedly be a year bustling with key events where to prove oneself. It is not just about the medals themselves, but also the crucial points needed in the Race to Tokyo. Ronan Labar, just like the whole world of badminton, has been preparing for what’s to come.
-We have been preparing in our national centre since we had to isolate ourselves for seven days because of a close contact before Orléans Masters.
It is clear to see that COVID-19 can still cause unexpected problems, but Labar and other players will not let that stop them from focusing on the ultimate goal: earning points and taking medals home. The French player has already succeeded in past Championships and has a chance of doing it again, as the mixed doubles list offers big names but nothing is set on stone.
Eyes on the medal
Ronan Labar and Anne Tran make a strong duo. After winning their first title as a pair at the 2019 LI-NING Denmark Challenge, it has not been a bad few years for the French players who hold the tenth spot in the European rankings. When asked about his aims for the upcoming tournament, Labar know where his priorities lie.
-It’s probably going to be my last tournament together with Anne so I hope to enjoy our time on court and of course come back with a medal.
It seems like this could be his and Trans’s chance to give the world of badminton a great final show as a pair. They have faced some big rivals in the past tournaments, such as in the 2021 YONEX Swiss Open where they managed to defeat Hoo Pang Ron/ Cheah Yee See but lost to fellow Malaysians Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying right before reaching the quarterfinals. As for Labar’s expectations of the Championships, he’s got his eyes on the prize:
-To come back with a medal one more time, Labar affirmed.
Former medallists looking to win again
The 2017 European Championships were a huge success for Ronan Labar. He stepped into the tournament with Audrey Fontaine and they went on to win bronze after defeating Gabrielle and Chris Adcock. The absence of the latter in the upcoming Championships has created lots of talk as to who will step in the top spot of the reigning champions. Labar is up for the challenge and feels like he and Tran have a big chance at striking gold.
-The mixed doubles draw is extremely strong with plenty of good teams which can aim for gold but I’m confident that we have our chances against everyone, so we will see.
Last time he reached the top, the former medallist was in one of the biggest mixed doubles duos of the decade. Now he will be battling side by side with Anne Tran who has been securing some excellent wins outside mixed doubles. In the 2018 European Championships, Tran won silver with Émilie Lefel, so Labar’s companion clearly knows a thing or two on how to get your hands on a medal. To do so, they will have to beat big rivals and Labar knows the road to the podium will not be smooth, but he has a French final clash in mind.
-All seeded pairs have chances. I also hope that Thom and Delphine will play a great Championships. Why not a French final?
The 2021 European Championships will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine from 27 April to 2 May. For more information about the 2021 European Championships, click
here.