Events

Seeds have been sown
Date: 4/4/2014 4:16 PM
Published by : Manuel Røsler

As the European Championships draws ever closer the seeds were released today ahead of the tournament draw next Tuesday. As expected Denmark dominate the seeding’s but as Karlskrona 2012 proved there is always the chance of an upset as Europe’s elite battle for supremacy and the title of Europe’s best shuttler in each of the five disciplines.

Zwiebler against Denmark in title defence


Marc Zwiebler has carried the mantle of European Champion with honour over the past two years and if he is to retain his crown The German will firstly need to improve on his form from the recent 2014 European Men's and Women's Team Championships in Basel Switzerland and also unlock the secret to breaking the Danish dominance as he finds himself sandwiched between Jørgensen, Vittinghus and Axelsen.

The disappointment of Karlskrona two years ago is sure to still leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Jørgensen and Vittinghus alike as both failed to deliver when beaten early. The Danes are sure to travel to Kazan with a hunger to succeed and Axelsen will back the pair up should there be any slip ups this time around.

Rajiv Ouseph (England) and Lång look the best of the rest on current form and Ville Lang (Finland) in particular has prepared like never before and is hungry for success in Kazan.

“I have prepared the best I have ever done for a European championships and I am in the best shape of my life as I go to Kazan. I want to win a medal at the Europeans and my mind-set is right going there” said the Finn currently in action at his home international in Helsinki.

Men’s singles seeding for 2014 European Championships

1. Jan Ø. Jørgensen DEN
2. Marc Zwiebler GER
3. Hans Kristian Vitttinghus DEN
4. Viktor Axelsen DEN
5. Rajiv Ouseph ENG
6. Eric Pang NED
7. Brice Leverdez FRA
8. Ville Lang FIN

Marin’s opportunity to create some Spanish history

Without doubt Spain’s Carolina Marin is hot favourite to lift the European crown in Kazan. The Spaniard was only a whisker away from a world medal last August and playing her best the rest are fighting for silver.

Kirsty Gilmour (Scotland) has had to play second fiddle to Marin in recent meetings but the Scot will be as well prepared as any travelling to Moscow.
Medals are there for the taking in the women’s singles and depending on a favourable draw, Ireland’s Chloe Magee will be an outside bet for a medal after her excellent performance as last European standing at the All England only a few weeks ago.

Women’s singles seeding for 2014 European Championships:

1. Carolina Marin ESP
2. Kirsty Gilmour SCO
3. Beatriz Corrales ESP
4. Linda Zetchiri BUL
5. Kristina Gavnholt CZE
6. Sashina Vignes Waran FRA
7. Chloe Magee IRL
8. Petya Nedelcheva BUL

Boe and Mogensen back to defend title

The men’s singles seeding reads as it rightfully should, Boe and Mogensen at the top with the rest following behind. The Danes have the beating of the rest of Europe on any given day but a lot will depend on motivation to do so. It’s a been there done that scenario for the world number 3 pair and if they want to win it bad enough it is hard to see anyone stopping them.

Men’s doubles seeding for 2014 European Championships:

1. Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen DEN
2. Andrew Ellis/Chris Adcock ENG
3. Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov RUS
4. Mads Kolding/Mads Conrad DEN

New Kids on block looking to dethrone defending champions

The emergence of Selena Piek and Eefje Muskens onto the international scene has been nothing short of phenomenal. The have beaten all that Europe has thrown at them but the biggest European scalp of all still awaits, a meeting with Juhl and Pedersen current world number 2 pair and defending champions.

Can the Dutch make an impact in Kazan? Of course they can and they should medal for sure. Can they beat Juhl and Pedersen that remains to be seen but it is the final that everyone will want to see for sure.

Women’s doubles seeding for 2014 European Championships:

1. Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Christinna Pedersen DEN
2. Selena Piek/Eefje Muskens NED
3. Marie Røpke/Line Kruse DEN
4. Imogen Bankier SCO/Petya Nedelcheva BUL

Unfinished business for Fischer & Pedersen

Like the Danish men’s singles from two years ago, mixed doubles pair Fischer and Pedersen will look to right the wrongs and reassert their claim as Europe’s top mixed doubles pair. The Danes were upstaged by compatriots Kolding & Houmann in Sweden and in what could be a last European hurray the world number 4 pair will want to take the top step of the podium. Last time around Polish duo Mateusiak and Zieba found the key to breaking the Danes down this time around the most likely opponents to their tour dominance will come from England as the Adcock’s look for their first European medal to help reignite the English tradition as European stalwart’s of mixed doubles.

Scotland will hope that Blair and Bankier can find the form that took them to the German Open title in March and Fuchs and Michels will once again take the German battle to England and Denmark.

Mixed Doubles seeding for 2014 European Championships:

1. Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen DEN
2. Chris Adcock/Gabrielle Adcock ENG
3. Michael Fuchs/Birgit Michels GER
4. Robert Blair/Imogen Bankier SCO

The tournament kicks off in Kazan on the 23rd April in the state of the art campus that staged the 2013 Universiade. The draw takes place on Tuesday next 8th April at 11am CET and will be available online at Badminton Europe’s website shortly thereafter.

Article by Mark Phelan for Badminton Europe.

©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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