In just two days, the best badminton players in Europe will converge in Saarbrücken for the 2024 European Championships from 8 to 14 April.
The event promises not just a tournament but a grand show of top-class badminton and entertainment, featuring three reigning champions all defending their titles on German soil. Among them, Spain's Carolina Marin sets her sights on an unprecedented seventh consecutive women's singles title, while Denmark's Viktor Axelsen aims to continue his dominance by securing his fourth European Championships victory.
The event will also serve as a crucial indicator of European players' form, just three months before the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Marin aims for historic seventh title
Carolina Marin is on the verge of setting a new benchmark in European badminton history. Having previously clinched six consecutive titles, Marin enters this championship in top form, fresh from recent victories at the All England and Swiss Open. Opting out of the Madrid Spain Masters to focus on the European Championships, Marin is poised for what could be a historic outing.
The women’s singles sees Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt looking to improve upon her previous best of a bronze medal at this event. Fresh off her Super 300 title win at the German Open, Blichfeldt is a strong contender. Denmark's third-seeded Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt and Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour, three-time European silver medallist, are also in the mix.
Danish dominance and strong French challengers
The men’s singles draw features a strong Danish contingent, with top seed Viktor Axelsen and second seed Anders Antonsen leading the charge. The Popov brothers, Christo and Toma Junior from France, seeded third and fourth respectively, promise exciting matches and have proved to be thrilling challengers to the top Danes. Denmark's Rasmus Gemke and Magnus Johannesen, seeded fifth and sixth, add depth to an already competitive field.
Doubles: top seeds and host nation hopes
The doubles categories are no less competitive, with Danes Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen leading the women's doubles as top seeds. Right on their heels are second seeds Margot Lambert/ Anne Tran who have proven to be a force to be reckoned with. This could be a good chance for the French duo to finish with a high result, while the defending champions, the Stoeva sisters, are also vying for the title. Germany’s own Linda Efler/Isabel Lohau represent the host nation's best hopes.
With the withdrawal of Mark Lamsfuss, the men's and mixed doubles categories will see no defending champions this year. This opens up a thrilling opportunity for new champions to emerge.
For the full list of seeded players and more details, click here.
Entertainment beyond the matches
The 2024 European Championships promise not just top-tier badminton but also entertainment that will elevate the tournament experience. From Tuesday 9 April, attendees can enjoy full-on entertainment around the focus matches, with the YONEX rapid-fire challenge, DJ sets, and surprise giveaways, making it an event not to be missed.
To enjoy the matches from the comfort of your home, you can watch them live on
BadmintonEurope.tv.