Events

(Photo: Badminton Europe)
Preview: Group 3
Date: 12/5/2020 6:22 AM
Published by : Emilie Sommer (BEC)

The European Mixed Team Championships Qualification commences next week. We take a look at all the teams in Group 3.

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 the qualification groups will advance to the finals, joining hosts Finland and reigning Champions Denmark. 

Qualification Group 3 will be held at the Olympiazentrum Linz in Linz, Austria. The group contains the hosts, Austria, along with Netherlands, Slovakia and Czech Republic. 


Austria

The hosting nation will have its work cut out against previous medalist at the EMTC in the Netherlands but will try to capitalise on their home advantage.  

Austria’s star player is men’s singles player Luka Wraber. Even though he is one of the older players in the team, he showed by winning the South Africa International in 2019 that he is still ready to fight. 

In the doubles especially the younger generation is doing well. Philip Birker, Dominik Stipsits, Serena Au Yeong and Katharina Hochmeier all won the gold medal at the Bulgarian International Championships 2019 in women’s and men’s doubles and all won a bronze medal in mixed doubles. These youngsters are ones to look out for. 

Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)

MS: LUKA WRABER (79) 

WS: KATRIN NEUDOLT (267)

MD: PHILIP BIRKER / DOMINIK STIPSITS (78)

WD: SERENA AU YEONG / KATHARINA HOCHMEIER (102)

XD: PHILIP BIRKER / KATHARINA HOCHMEIER (113)


Netherlands

From 2000 to 2006, the Netherlands won four medals, two silver and two bronze. Then again, after 13 years without winning a medal, they won the bronze medal at the 2019 EMTC in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

The Dutch national coach has already announced the players that will go to Austria to fight for a spot at the finals in Finland. The eight-man squad consists of Mark Caljouw, Joran Kweekel, Ruben Jille, Ties van der Lecq, Jaymie Laurens, Nadia Choukri, Cheryl Seinen and Debora Jille. 

Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)

MS: MARK CALJOUW (36) 

WS: SORAYA DE VISCH EIJBERGEN (66)

MD: RUBEN JILLE / TIES VAN DER LECQ (82)

WD: SELENA PIEK / CHERYL SEINEN (24)

XD: ROBIN TABELING / SELENA PIEK (16) 


Slovakia

Slovakia’s strength lies in the singles, with the two Centre of Excellence players, Martina Repiska and Milan Dratva. Even though the two players focus on singles, they won a tournament together back in 2017 in Morocco, where they could surprise some of their opponents in mixed doubles during the qualification. 

Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)

MS: MILAN DRATVA (143) 

WS: MARTINA REPISKA (88) 

MD: ANDREJ ANTOSKA / JAKUB HORAK (487)

WD: MIA TARCALOVA / KATARINA VARGOVA (779)

XD: MILAN DRATVA / MARTINA REPISKA (650)


Czech Republic

Just like Slovakia, Czech Republic has a CoE player in the women singles, Katerina Tomalova and a former CoE player in Milan Ludik in the men’s singles. Milan Ludik latest secured a silver medal at the South Africa International 2019 losing out to Austria’s Luka Wraber in the final. In their head to head, Wraber is currently leading with 3-2, so the men’s singles between these two will for sure be one to watch when Ludik will try and make it 3-3.  

Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)

MS: MILAN LUDIK (128)

WS: KATERINA TOMALOVA (125)

MD: JAROMIR JANACEK / TOMAS SVEJDA (74)

WD: ALZBETA BASOVA / MICHEALA FUCHSOVA (108)

XD: JAKUB BITMAN / ALZBETA BASOVA (77)


Group 3 will be played out 10-12 December (local time):

Thursday 10th December 2020 

Netherlands vs Slovakia 13:00

Czech Republic vs Austria 18:00

Friday 11th December 2020 

Czech Republic vs Slovakia 13:00

Netherlands vs Austria 18:00

Saturday 12th December 2020 

Netherlands vs Czech Republic 11:00

Austria vs Slovakia 16:00


For more information about the EMTCQ, click here


©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

Related news
29/03/2024
Europeans ready for quarterfinals in Madrid
European favourites out of the...

27/03/2024
EOC Executive Committee awards 2027 European Games to Istanbul
The European Olympic Committee...

27/03/2024
Madrid Spain Masters day 2: Victories, upsets, and excitement on court.
French siblings sweep to victo...

26/03/2024
A first action-packed day unfolds at the Spain Masters
The Madrid Spain Masters 2024 ...

26/03/2024
Spain Masters begins today with an unexpected withdrawal!
Madrid is buzzing with excitem...

25/03/2024
Lane/ Vendy and Marin, victorious at Swiss Open
The Swiss Open concluded this ...

More news