In the lead up to the 2021 European Championships next week, we take a closer look at each category, discussing which players will be in the mix for the medals.
In recent years, the Danish men’s singles cohort has been leading the way for European badminton winning some of the top prizes up for grabs on the world stage. It is, therefore, no surprise to see the Danish flag next to the top four seeds in the category.
Reigning champion and world number two Viktor Axelsen tops the lists, with the number three in the world, Anders Antonsen, just behind. Many fans will be anticipating these two to face off in the final, which would be their third meeting of the year. However, nothing is a given at these championships, and these two know this very well.
Axelsen travelled to Kolding, Denmark for the 2017 European Championships as the reigning champion and top seed. His run came to an end in the semifinal when losing to Antonsen in straight games, who then himself came up short against Rajiv Ouseph in the final. In 2018, the second-seeded Antonsen was forced to withdraw before the quarterfinal. It’s the beauty of sport, anything can happen.
If the two do meet in the final, then it will be an almighty showdown between the defending champion and the 2019 European Games gold medallist. Antonsen took a win against Axelsen to take the BWF World Tour Finals in January. Axelsen was able to get revenge in the 2021 All England Open semifinal in March. Will we get another battle in Kyiv?
The rise to the top
Antonsen’s childhood friend and fellow Denmark Open 2020 finalist, Rasmus Gemke, finds himself on the opposite side of the draw with the prospect of meeting Axelsen.
While many experienced names are lining up for a potential quarterfinal with Axelsen, such as eighth seed Thomas Rouxel, Russia’s Vladimir Malkov and Spain’s Pablo Abian, for third seed Gemke, the formbook points to a quarterfinal matchup against seventh seed Toma Junior Popov.
They have not played against each other before, which poses an interesting discussion. Gemke has proven that on his day he can cause problems against the world’s top players. On his list of notable wins, we can find Chou Tien Chen, Jonatan Christie and Anthony Ginting, however, results for the world number 12 this year leaves him vulnerable.
Toma Junior Popov on the other hand is going from strength to strength. In late 2020, he picked up the SaarLorLux Open title, and this year he comes in with confidence after winning the Orleans Masters. It would be a major step up if he can reach the quarterfinal and deliver a result that would put him in amongst the medals.
The rematch
On the other side of the draw, a potential passionate revenge match is on the cards in round three between fifth seed Mark Caljouw and the experienced Misha Zilberman. In the quarterfinals of the 2019 European Games, despite a previous loss to Zilberman earlier in the year, the Dutchman was a strong favourite to secure a medal. Caljouw had the match in control, only for Zilberman to gain momentum at the right time and win bronze for Israel.
Caljouw sees this as a big chance squandered and would love the opportunity to score a win over Zilberman, entering into the quarterfinal, where the fourth seed Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, 35, maybe awaiting him.
Vittinghus won the bronze in 2017, and if reaching the semifinal once again and meeting Antonsen, their only previous competitive match will be on vividly their minds. It happened at the Thailand Open semifinal in January this year, with Vittinghus and his unbreakable defence pulling off an almighty shock. He said that he played one of his best matches in his career. Could he do the same in Kyiv?
Pochtarov eyeing up final 16
Ukraine’s star men’s singles player who trains at the Centre of Excellence in Denmark will be quietly optimistic about making it into the last 16 men standing in Europe. Pochtarov did just that in 2018 Huelva, defeating Bulgaria’s Ivan Rusev and then Finland’s Eetu Heino, before having to withdraw before his quarterfinal against reigning champion Rajiv Ouseph.
This time in Kyiv, standing in his way between round three and the quarterfinals may be the sixth-seeded Frenchman, Brice Leverdez. The 35-year old comes to Kyiv having won bronze at the 2018 European Championships, silver at the 2019 European Games, so will be giving it his all for the gold.
The 2021 European Championships will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine from 27 April to 2 May.