The European Championships are done and the Singapore Open has been cancelled, but there is so much more to look forward to this year. We take a look at some of the most important events in the upcoming months.
There is still a lingering uncertainty about whether certain events will get the green light to take place due to the pandemic. Still, what a ride these past few months have been. Badminton fans have got to enjoy some exciting events such as the Thailand Opens, the BWF World Tour Finals, the European Mixed Team Championships, Swiss Open, All England Open and the recent European Championships.
The good news is, there are still many good things to come. The Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) and BWF have jointly decided that the Singapore Open that was supposed to get place 1-6 June will not be happening, but there are some important upcoming tournaments in the following months.
Spain, last train stop before the Olympics
With the cancellation of the Singapore Open, the die is pretty much cast in terms of players’ points to qualify for the Olympics. The fight in the Road to Tokyo is over, but there are still many important matches to be played. Just next week, Huelva will be again the host of the Spain Masters. It will be five days for the participants from around the world to give it their all before the Olympics.
The Palacio de Deportes will see some interesting clashes as some big international names will face off, with a few previous champions already eyeing the podium. On the European side, there are some powerful players missing, which could make it easier for lower-ranked ones to get closer to the key final matches. It will certainly be a thrilling tournament.
As with all sports, the summer will mostly be all about the Tokyo Olympics. Expectations are high and there are already talks about the definite classification since Singapore Open’s cancellation means there are no more points up for grabs to get into the big list. The postponement has made both players and fans feel a growing anticipation and the global event will surely provide some serious showdowns.
Exciting times for the upcoming talents
Both the younger and the more experienced in our badminton communities also have great events looming on the horizon. There is still a bit to go until the European U17 Championships, which will take place in September, but there are other opportunities for the youngsters to show off their skills.
In terms of preparing these, an excellent opportunity is that of the BEC Summer School. After a break in 2020 due to COVID-19, this year the summer school that will have been running for 38 years now is back. From 3-10 July, the young and talented participants will gather in Podčetrtek, Slovenia together with coaches looking to undertake the BWF Coach Education Level 2 course.
It is a wonderful chance for all involved to learn and share experiences while having a fantastic time and make new friends. Badminton Europe and the Badminton Association in Slovenia have been working closely together to deliver the much-awaited RSL BEC Summer School and Matevz Srekl, General Secretary of the Badminton Association of Slovenia is sure it will be a successful event.
-Through this event, we would like to show that we are ready for the European U17 Championships and this event will be one step along the way in promoting badminton and the European U17 Championships in Slovenia. After all, we would like to show all participants the beauty of our country, so they will like to come back and at the same time spread the message among their friends, Srekl said.
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