Badminton Europe spoke to Selena Piek, the dutch powerhouse, who together with her partner Robin Tabeling have been dominating the european Mix Double divisions. With Selena and Robin having announced their retirement following the Olympics, we wanted to catch up with her to understand her thoughts going into this final tournament.
1.) What does it mean to be playing the Olympic as the final chapter of your impressive career as a pair?
"It means a lot, qualifying was our big goal for this tournament (obviously). So it means a lot to us. It is our second Olympics as a pair, it will also be our last one. So we feel really really motivated, and eager to perform well, but we'll also try to enjoy it. Our families are coming so it’s hopefully going to be a great experience. We are aiming for that surprise!"
2.) What do you hope to accomplish during the Olympics?
"We are really going for an upset. We are not medal contesters, I wouldn’t say that. We have qualified as pair 13th (or 12th), so we are not medal contesters on paper but we have shown that we have the level to beat almost anyone inside the top 10. So that is a huge goal of ours, getting out of the group stage, and then let’s see what happens. But it will be of course a dream to medal at these Olympics."
3. After a long and successful career – Which includes winning the European Olympics (European Games) - How will it be to no longer play badminton together competitively?
"It is going to be strange, I think. Of course, it will be a huge transition. In the beginning, we won’t be noticing it that much because we are still quite active, we are both playing in the Danish and German league. But especially after an Olympic year where we have been waiting for so long, so much, and also spending so much time together, it’s going to be definitely different.
We don’t see it as a negative, it can also be a bit of a positive (laughs). Maybe we won’t even be missing each other (that’s a joke, I will miss Robin for sure but on a different level). It will be a huge transformation, I have been into this since I was 15. So I can see some challenges there for myself, but at first I am really going to enjoy not going to be a professional badminton player anymore."
4.) In your Group, you are meeting Dechapol Puavaranukroh/ Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Seo Seung Jae/ Chae Yu Jung who you have had a lot of experience playing against with both wins and losses. As well as the Algerian pair Koceila Mammeri/ Tanina Violette Mammeri. What are your thoughts and approach to the group stage of the tournament?
