Seedings for the Badminton competition at the inaugural European Games have been announced, with Danish, Irish and Russian athletes particularly well-positioned ahead of the draw on 2 June.
Ireland’s Scott Evans is seeded first in the men’s singles competition, followed by Israel’s Misha Zilberman and Spain’s Pablo Abian in third and second, respectively, while Denmark’s Emil Holst is seeded eighth.
The women’s singles competition features two Bulgarian athletes seeded first and third – Linda Zetchiri and Petya Nedelcheva, respectively, with Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt between them as the second seed. Ireland’s Chloe Magee, who will also feature in the mixed doubles, is seeded sixth.
The men’s doubles competition also sees the Danes seeded highly, with Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen, who are currently ranked second in the world, ahead of Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov, followed by German pair Raphael Beck and Andreas Heinz.
Bulgaria’s women are strong contenders in the women’s doubles, with sisters Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva seeded first, ahead of Russians Evgeniya Kostskaya and Ekaterina Bolotova, and Turkey’s Neslihan Yigit and Özge Bayrak.
In the mixed doubles, Irish siblings Sam and Chloe Magee are seeded ahead of Russia’s Vitalij Durkin and Nina Vislova, and Niclas Nøhr and Sara Thygesen of Denmark.
Anticipation is building amongst the Baku-bound athletes, with Scott Evans (pictured) saying: “This European Games has been a long time coming and is sure to be a fantastic event. I cannot wait to get there and step on court and be a part of European history. I am sure the European Games will grow to be as big as the Olympic Games someday and I want to say I was there from the beginning.”
The final draw will take place on 2 June, ahead of the competition at Baku Sports Hall from 22-28 June.
Full seedings for the Baku 2015 Badminton competition are as follows:
Men’s singles: 1. Scott Evans (IRL) 2. Misha Zilberman (ISR) 3. Pablo Abian (ESP) 4. Eric Pang (NED) 5. Petr Koukal (CZE) 6. Luka Wraber (AUT) 7. Vladimir Malkov (RUS) 8. Emil Holst (DEN)
Women’s singles: 1. Linda Zetchiri (BUL) 2. Line Kjaersfeldt (DEN) 3. Petya Nedelcheva (BUL) 4. Nesilhan Yigit (TUR) 5. Anna Thea Madsen (DEN) 6. Chloe Magee (IRL) 7. Jeanine Cicognini (ITA) 8. Natalia Perminova (RUS)
Men’s doubles: 1. Mathias Boe / Carsten Mogensen (DEN) 2. Vladimir Ivanov / Ivan Sozonov (RUS) 3. Raphael Beck / Andreas Heinz (GER) 4. Matijs Dierickx / Freek Golinski (BEL)
Women’s doubles: 1. Gabriela Stoeva / Stefani Stoeva (BUL) 2. Evgeniya Kosetskaya / Ekaterina Bolotova (RUS) 3. Neslihan Yiğit / Özge Bayrak (TUR) 4. Lena Grebak / Maria Helsbøl (DEN)
Mixed doubles: 1. Sam Magee / Chloe Magee (IRL) 2. Vitalij Durkin / Nina Vislova (RUS) 3. Niclas Nøhr / Sara Thygesen (DEN) 4. Gaetan Mittelheisser / Audrey Fontaine (FRA)
Click here for the official website of the 1st European Games in Baku.
Photo by BadmintonPhoto.