Fabien Delrue has gone through the full range of emotions this week in Tallinn. The French man was dropped for the semi final and final of the team event after some lacklustre performances but less than one week later he walks away from Tallinn with two individual gold medals.
Delrue and partner Juliette Moinard got France off to the perfect start winning the mixed doubles title. It proved to be one match to far for Dutch pair Tirtosentono and Van Der Aar with the Dutch failing to find the spark that had brought them to the final.
Delrue partnered William Villeger to the men’s doubles title later in the afternoon to end what started as a frustrating week for the French man in the most perfect way possible, 3 gold medals.
- Mentally I was not good in the team event. I needed the help of my coaches to get me right and I thank them for this. 2 individual golds have not sunk in yet but I am sure I will start to enjoy it more and more as the hours go by.
France rounded off a perfect day adding the men’s singles title to the mixed and men’s doubles. Arnaud Merkle was virtually unbeatable all week. Today he beat Christo Popov to win gold after the disappointment of taking silver last time out on home turf in Mulhouse.
- After winning silver last year it was my big focus to come back and win this title. I had a very good summer of preparation and with the support of my coaches and family we made this possible.
Denmark will travel home with a lot to think about but they can also rest assured they have a star for the future in Line Christophersen (pictured above). A two set win over compatriot Amalie Schulz was the only success for Europe’s powerhouse nation.
- The semi final and final were tough as I was very nervous in both matches. It was not until mid point of the second game in the final did I start to feel relaxed.
Turkey once again proved their worth as a serious European junior badminton nation as Bengisu Ercetin and Nazlican Ince beat top seeds Magelund and Ravn to win the women’s doubles gold medal.