While we’ll get the final list of players competing at the 2023 European Games in a month, here’s how it’s looking so far for Europe’s top athletes and how the qualification process works.
We’re getting closer to the continent’s biggest multisport event. The 2023 European Games, to be hosted in Kraków and Małopolska, Poland, will be taking place from 21 June to 2 July. The badminton event will be played from the 26 June until the 2 July in Tarnów. As Europe prepares for the much-anticipated sports competition, badminton fans might be wondering who will be representing their nation in Poland this summer.
The qualification period is close to an end and in a month, we’ll know the full list of those who have qualified. Here is a summary of how the qualification system works and who’d have their spot in the European Games according to the current rankings.
How are the spots allocated?
The allocation will be made based on the entitled number of Quota Places per NOC — which stands for National Olympic Committee, the national constituents that represent their respective countries in Olympic Games— and according to the BWF World Ranking Lists of 28 March 2023.
To participate in the 2023 European Games, the players must have competed in a minimum of three tournaments from 28 March 2022 until 28 March 2023.
For men’s singles and women’s singles, there will be 32 players competing in each of the events. If ranked 1 to 8 on the European Ranking List of 28 March 2023, the best two of each NOC will be eligible and, in the case that a NOC has more than two players ranked 1 to 8, they can choose any two. There is a maximum of two players per NOC.
On the other hand, from those ranked 9 or lower, only the best one of each NOC will qualify. However, if there is more than one player eligible, they can enter any of the eligible players. Gold medalists of the Men’s Singles (Salomon Adam Thomasen -DEN) and Women’s Singles (Nella Nyqvist – FIN) events at the 2022 EYOF in Banska Bystrica will each be allocated a quota place for 2023 European Games.
As for the doubles events, it works the same way with a total of 16 spots in each of the draws. If ranked 1 to 4, the best two of each NOC will be eligible and, in the case that a NOC has more than two pairs ranked 1 to 4, they can choose any two pairs. There is a maximum of two pairs per NOC.
However, from those ranked 5 or lower, only the best one of each NOC will qualify. If there is more than one pair eligible, they can enter any of the eligible pairs they would like.
As the host, Poland is ensured to have at least one spot for each event. Universality places are foreseen for the men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles events. These places will be allocated by the EOC in conjunction with Badminton Europe.
Players
Below are the lists of players qualified in each event for the 2023 European Games based on the BWF World Rankings of 21 February 2023. Universality places and 2022 EYOF places have not been added at this stage.