The III European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023 are just around the corner. The Opening Ceremony is set to take place on 21 June, with the badminton competition starting on 26 June, promising intense showdowns and fierce rivalries from Europe’s best.
Our European stars will first have to make it past the Group Stage. The draw was conducted last week and we now know who will face who in this first phase. Let's delve into the men’s singles event.
The return of Viktor Axelsen has created a buzz among fans, especially those who wanted to see him back in time for the European Games. Recovering from a left hamstring muscle strain that forced him to withdraw from the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023, the Dane has made his comeback at the KAPAL API GROUP Indonesia Open 2023. Axelsen has already secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open, instilling confidence in his European Games prospects.
Another Danish contender, Anders Antonsen, also faced his share of injury setbacks. However, Antonsen has shown his strength in the past months, clinching the bronze medal at the All England and Madrid Spain Masters, and most recently finishing as runner-up at the Singapore Open. Despite an early exit from the Indonesia Open, he is expected to put up a strong fight against his Group B counterparts.
Although Toma Junior Popov bid farewell to the Indonesia Open today, the French player remains one of Europe's strongest competitors. Popov's recent achievements, including a bronze medal in the Thailand Open and the Madrid Spain Masters, highlight his potential to add excitement to the European Games.
Topping Group E, Christo Popov encountered a minor setback in Indonesia with an injury during his men's singles match. Nevertheless, Popov's determination shines through as he expressed his eagerness to return to the court fully prepared for the European Games.
“My ankle is better than we thought so this is good news. It has been a long journey in Asia since the Sudirman Cup Finals in China. Now it’s time now to go back home and recover well before getting back to work. My goal is now to be 100% ready for the European Games,” the Frenchman said to his fans on his Instagram.
Czech Republic's Jan Louda and Belgium's Julien Carraggi in Group H are also promising contenders. Louda, the seeded player, emerged as the champion of the Mexican International Challenge last month and displayed good performances at the VICTOR Denmark Masters last week. The Belgian player won his first international title in April and went on to clinch his second one just a month later. The upcoming match in the first round of the Nantes International between Louda and Carraggi will provide an enticing preview of their encounter in Tarnow.
Nhat Nguyen has been primarily active on the BWF World Tour this year. Leading Group D, the Irish player faces stiff competition from Mark Caljouw, another formidable contender within the same group. Caljouw's runner-up finish at the Denmark Masters this year adds to the anticipation.
While these players are expected to advance from their respective groups, the stage is set for intense battles all around. Stay tuned for more content, information, and articles covering all aspects you need to know about the 2023 European Games.