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Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel after clinching the Dubai 2021 title
French delight in Dubai
Date: 4/4/2021 8:51 PM
Published by : Bobby Griffin (BEC)

Mazur and Noel have finally solved the Indonesian mixed doubles puzzle, how to beat Susanto and Oktila


Indonesia’s Hary Susanto and Leani Ratri Oktila were unbeaten until today. Not only this week, but since they started playing Para badminton together which is more than 60 matches now. The world number one pair and World Champions, the pair have been formidable. 


It seemed only a matter of time however that Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel (FRA) would find a way to beat them and on their 7th meeting today, with three of those previous occasions going to a deciding game, they have finally managed to do it.


What is even more impressive is that Mazur had played a SU5 men’s doubles final this morning with a 21-19 third game win with Meril Loquette over another strong Indonesian pair, and a SL4 men’s singles final win over India’s Sukant Kadam shortly before the mixed doubles match.


Noel, with Lenaig Morin had already faced Oktila today, with partner Khalimatus Sadiyah in a two game SL3-SU5 women’s doubles final. And so with seven games of badminton already played between the French pair today, a 21-19 third game victory over the reigning World Champions in mixed doubles must be up there with one of the best Para badminton performances ever.


Read: Peter Gade: there is no limit on how far you can go


‘we are delighted to be the first pair to ever beat them’


We spoke with Faustine Noel after today’s medal ceremony to find out what she has to say about today’s performance.


- we are really, really happy to win today! Our first win against them and I think this might be the first time anyone has ever beaten that pair in Para badminton internationals, so we are delighted that we were the first to do it, said the Frenchwoman


- we were really focused at this tournament and had a lot of confidence today in our strategy against the Indonesians. We managed to keep the tactics throughout the match and that also helped keep us playing positively, she added 


- I think this result is really important for our Paralympic ambitions and perhaps now we have a new goal with that in mind. We must be careful, as one win against them doesn’t mean we will beat them the next time we meet, but it gives us a lot to go home and work with and focus our training, said Noel



See the 3rd Fazza Dubai Para badminton international tournament results here

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