The 2022 European Championships will take place in Madrid, Spain from 25 to 30 April. The seeding is based on the BWF World Ranking list published on Tuesday 5 April 2022.

Having missed the chance to fight in the European final last year, Viktor Axelsen tops the list once again and will be aiming at winning his third European gold in Madrid. Reigning champion Anders Antonsen will also be there as one of the strongest contenders and so will Hans-Kristian Vittinghus. The category’s powerful Danish side will be missing Rasmus Gemke, who announced his withdrawal from the event.

France will try again with 2018 bronze medallist Brice Leverdez, Thomas Rouxel, and Toma Junior Popov, none of whom got to secure a podium spot in Kyiv. This could be the chance for the older Popov brother to get his hands on his first European medal after a year of strong results.

1. Viktor Axelsen (DEN)

2. Anders Antonsen (DEN)

3. Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus (DEN)

4. Mark Caljouw (NED)

5. Toma Junior Popov (FRA)

6. Brice Leverdez (FRA)

7. Thomas Rouxel (FRA)

8. Nhat Nguyen (IRL)

Carolina Marin made history with her fifth consecutive European title in 2021, and she could be continuing her epic winning streak by adding yet another gold in her big comeback on home soil. The unlucky injury that had Marin out of the Tokyo Olympics and the remaining tournaments of the second half of the year has not stopped her from coming back on time for the 2022 European Championships.

The women’s singles seeded list remains, in fact, with the same names as the 2020 one. It was also, however, an injury that kept Mia Blichfeldt from having the opportunity to fight on the big European stage last year. The Dane is back and so is Line Christophersen, who won her first medal of the event with a silver in Kyiv. Three-time medallist Kirsty Gilmour has a strong chance at delivering once again.

1. Carolina Marin (ESP)

2. Mia Blichfeldt (DEN)

3. Kirsty Gilmour (SCO)

4. Line Christophersen (DEN)

5. Yvonne Li (GER)

6. Neslihan Yigit (TUR)

7. Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt (DEN)

8. Lianne Tan (BEL)

This category will be having a reshuffling of its winners in Madrid. COVID-19 kept fans from enjoying a men’s doubles final and it also got in the way of Mark Lamsfuss/ Marvin Seidel’s fight for the gold. This could be the chance for the title for the 2020 silver medallists and for Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who had a fantastic run in 2021.

Another pair to keep an eye on is that of Christo Popov/ Toma Junior Popov. The French brothers have earned some important wins in the singles category, but could this be their chance to earn their biggest achievement together in the shape of a European medal? It won’t be an easy task, as men’s doubles is brimming with talent and contenders hungry for their first time at the European podium.

1. Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (DEN)

2. Mark Lamsfuss/ Marvin Seidel (GER)

3. Ben Lane/ Sean Vendy (ENG)

4. Christo Popov/ Toma Junior Popov (FRA)

5. Jeppe Bay/ Lasse Mølhede (DEN)

6. Alexander Dunn/ Adam Hall (SCO)

7. Fabien Delrue/ William Villeger (FRA)

8. Ruben Jille/ Ties van der Lecq (NED)

Gabriela Stoeva/ Stefani Stoeva are on a roll in 2022 so far and this might be a sign of yet another successful year for the sisters. The reigning champions have already earned two golds and one silver this year and could retain the crown. They will have to watch out for Maiken Fruergaard/ Sara Thygesen who will be aiming at turning their European bronze, which they’ve won three times, into a silver or, of course, a gold.

Amalie Magelund/ Freja Ravn could get the successful Denmark yet another medal too, while Linda Efler/ Isabel Lohau also pose a threat to the other top duos, having recently finished runner-ups in the Swiss Open. 

1. Gabriela Stoeva/ Stefani Stoeva (BUL)

2. Maiken Fruergaard/ Sara Thygesen (DEN)

3. Amalie Magelund/ Freja Ravn (DEN)

4. Linda Efler/ Isabel Lohau (GER)

5. Julie Macpherson/ Ciara Torrance (SCO)

6. Debora Jille/ Cheryl Seinen (NED)

7. Johanna Magnusson/ Clara Nistad (SWE)

8. Christine Busch/ Amalie Schulz (DEN)

Top-seeded Marcus Ellis/ Lauren Smith are no strangers to the European Championships podium. With a bronze in 2018 and a silver in 2021, their next goal is a gold and Madrid could give them just that. 

French talents Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue will be playing an important role. The pair haven’t been able to get past the quarterfinals of any of the 2022 tournaments so far but could be grabbing a medal in the biggest European event. Some of the more experienced pairs won’t make it that easy for them, as Mathias Christiansen/ Alexandra Bøje will have their eyes on the prize to get their second European medal, and it wouldn’d be the first time that Marks Lamsfuss/ Isabel Lohau and Robin Tabeling/ Selena Piek make it to the podium either - although for the Dutch duo this would be their first time as a pair.

1. Marcus Ellis/ Lauren Smith (ENG)

2. Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue (FRA)

3. Mathias Christiansen/ Alexandra Bøje (DEN)

4. Mark Lamsfuss/ Isabel Lohau (GER)

5. Robin Tabeling/ Selena Piek (NED)

6. Mikkel Mikkelsen/ Rikke Søby (DEN)

7. Adam Hall/ Julie Macpherson (SCO)

8. Callum Hemming/ Jessica Pugh (ENG)

The draw will be conducted and published on Tuesday 12 April 2022.

For more information about the 2022 European Championships, click here. 

The full list of seeded entries can be viewed here.