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Mazur and Noel in the fight at the Euros (credit Badminton Europe / Mark Phelan)
Mazur aiming to come back stronger in Dubai
Date: 4/3/2019 7:03 PM
Published by : Bobby Griffin (BEC)

Lucas Mazur recovers well after his first loss in 2 years last weekend in Turkey, with straight games wins so far this week in Dubai



French SL4 Lucas Mazur starts off this week with two straight game wins in the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles group D, with partner Faustine Noel over difficult opposition. They made light work of China’s Wu Faxin and Li Tongtong 21-13, 21-17 in their opener and managed the same score in their next group match against India’s Rakesh Pandey and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi.


They top the group and avoid top seeded Indonesians in the other half of the knock-out stage draw to give the French pair a good chance at medals.




READ: “I’m really looking forward to the next round” (Kirsty Gilmour)




Another Indian awaits Mazur in the final match in SL4 men’s singles group A. A win would set up the world number 1 with a chance at revenge this week, after failure to go 2 years unbeaten in singles last week in Turkey. Mazur said


“I made too many mistakes in the final last week. I came for the win and yet I made 16 errors and lost in 2 games which was disappointing. It was my fault, I know that and I lacked confidence. This week will be different! Faustine and I started strongly yesterday and I hope to make it two wins here. I’d like to add that the arena looks great, very professional here in Dubai. Compared to last week in Turkey which felt like a tourist competition.”





Will Smith takes on the best in Europe


England’s number 2 SL3 Will Smith faces a tough group in the men’s singles. The seed is world number 6 Vikram Kumar (IND) and the player tipped to exit the group with him would be the European Finalist and world number 12 Oleksandr Chyrkov (UKR). 


Smith, the Underdog if only on paper, put in a fine performance yesterday to outwit Chyrkov and put pressure on to make it to the knock-outs with a 16-21, 21-17, 21-15 win. We spoke to the man from Newcastle this afternoon:


“Whey-Aye Man! I played really well! He likes to attack so I had to concentrate on winning the net, like, to take that away from him. The hall is quite slow so his big smash didn’t threaten us too much, like. It’s definitely given us a lot a confidence, like. I’ve still the French lad and Vikram in me box yet, so I’ll not get too excited just yet”


“I’ve been working hard at home, in the gym and it’s definitely helping me. My racket skills are decent but that’s no use if I can’t get to the shuttle so I’ve been doing a lot of S&C to get me quicker, to get behind the shuttle earlier and it seems to be working”


Smith paired up with teammate Bobby Griffin in the SL3-4 men’s doubles this afternoon, and took on the French European Finalists Guillaume Gailly and Matthieu Thomas in their first group game. Delight for the English as they took the match in 3 close games and look favourites to top Group D.


“I’m not being funny like, but that was some match! That Griff! He’s a canny lad like. That was the first time we’ve played together and hopefully we can beat the Indians tomorrow and get a good draw. Anything can happen now like. Up the Toon!”



The 2nd Fazza - Dubai Para-Badminton International continues this week. Look out for updates to follow and results each day on tournament software here with this link.

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