The European Mixed Team Championships Qualification commences next week. We take a look at all the teams in Group 1.
The European Mixed Team Championships, which started in 1972, is played in February in uneven years. The eight best teams in Europe will be competing to become European Champions from 16 to 20 February 2021 in Vantaa, Finland.
The winning team in each of the qualification groups will advance to the finals, joining hosts Finland and reigning champions Denmark.
Qualification Group 1 will be held at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, England. The group contains the hosts, England, along with Estonia, Hungary and Sweden. Here is a rundown of the teams:
England
The hosting nation has a rich history in this competition, winning five golds and three silver in the first eight championships. Since then, they have had to settle for the lower levels of the podium. In 2019 however, they failed to advance from the group stage for the first time in 15 years. They hope to amend this blip by a strong performance this time around.
England’s major strengths are in their established men’s doubles pair, Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge, the current Commonwealth Games champions and Olympic bronze medallists, who came away with the Denmark Open title at the end of the 2020 season. England also has great options in the mixed doubles with European Games champions Marcus Ellis/ Lauren Smith and double European Champions, Chris and Gabrielle Adcock.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 03.12.2020)
MS: TOBY PENTY (54)
WS: CHLOE BIRCH (67)
MD: MARCUS ELLIS/CHRIS LANGRIDGE (22)
WD: CHLOE BIRCH/ LAUREN SMITH (18)
XD: MARCUS ELLIS/ LAUREN SMITH (9)
Estonia
A small badminton nation which is looking to take inspiration from their juniors, who at the European Junior Championships won Estonia’s first-ever medal when they picked up the bronze in the team event.
Strengths lie in the singles categories, with the experienced Raul Must, 2019 European Games bronze medallist, looking to lead the team towards a potential upset. Must defeated Toby Penty when the two countries played at the European Men’s Team Championships in February. Also, highest-ranked Kristin Kuuba, 2015 European Games bronze medallist, will be a major weapon, and both singles players may support the doubles categories.
The 2020 Latvia International champions, Marran/ Ruutel will be playing a pivotal role if Estonia is looking to become the surprise package in group 1.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 03.12.2020)
MS: RAUL MUST (82)
WS: KRISTIN KUUBA (59)
MD: KRISTJAN KALJURAND/ RAUL KASNER (191)
WD: KATI-KREET MARRAN/ HELINA RUUTEL (73)
XD: MIHKEL LAANES/ HELINA RUUTEL (371)
Hungary
Similar to Estonia, Hungary shows much promise in the young players coming through. For the first time, winning medals at the 2018 European Junior Championships with two bronzes in the women’s singles from Vivien Sandorhazi and Reka Madarasz.
Hungary’s strength lies in the singles, with 2020 Uganda International champion, Gergely Krausz, and their Olympian from Rio, Laura Sarosi, leading the way, and both may play roles in supporting the doubles categories.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 03.12.2020)
MS: GERGELY KRAUSZ (103)
WS: LAURA SAROSI (78)
MD: LEVENTE NAGY-SZABO/ MARK SZENT-ANDRASSY (1012)
WD: DANIELLA GONDA/ AGNES KOROSI (77)
XD: LEVENTE NAGY-SZABO / VIVIEN SANDORHAZI (1051)
Sweden
A nation longing for the return of the glory years, having won 13 medals at the European Mixed Team Championships, starting in the seventies and eventually drying up at the end of the nineties. Their two championship wins came back-to-back in 1992 and 1994.
The future is bright, with recent success at the 2020 European Junior Championships, with Edith Urell picking up two silver medals in the women’s singles and the mixed doubles with Gustav Bjorkler.
In 2017, women’s doubles pair Emma Karlsson and Johanna Magnusson became the first Swedish players to win the European Junior Championships in 20 years. Currently ranked 37, Karlsson, aged 22, is retiring from badminton. Thus we will not be seeing this strong pair at the competition, but Magnusson may still play a big role for the team with other partners.
Centre of Excellence player, Felix Burestedt, is hoping to impress in the men's singles after his recent success reaching the final of the Swedish Open and a quarterfinals appearance at the European Games.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 03.12.2020)
MS: FELIX BURESTEDT (57)
WS: ASHWATI PILLAI (137)
MD: CARL HARRBACKA/ MELKER Z-BEXELL (186)
WD: CLARA NISTAD/ MOA SJOO (55)
XD: MELKER Z-BEXELL / TILDA SJOO (171)
Group 1 will be played out 10-12 December (local time):
Thursday 10th December 2020
Sweden vs Estonia 10:00
England vs Hungary 14:00
Friday 11th December 2020
Sweden vs Hungary 10:00
England vs Estonia 14:00
Saturday 12th December 2020
Estonia vs Hungary 10:00
England vs Sweden 14:00
For more information about the EMTCQ, click here.