FRENCH NATIONALS – Popov enters history again

17-year-old Christo Popov was crowned in Mulhouse, entering history as France’s youngest ever national champion.

Raphael Sachetat. Photos (live) : Yohan Nonotte / Badmintonphoto

There were rumours for a while. Yes, there was this young kid, in the Popov family, who seemed like a gem. His older brother, already, had made the family name known, a few years after the uncle, Mihail, who had been amongst France’s best men’s doubles player for a while. In the last few years, Christo Popov (pictured right) has won logically the French National Youth Championships, year after year, but the real breakthrough came last November, when he scooped the silver medal in the World Junior Championships, losing only to Thailand’s jewel Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who won his third title.

This year, Christo was entering the French Senior National Championships with a new status – top seed – in the absence of 9-time champion Brice Leverdez, who was held up by the Indian Premier League. The pressure of being the favourite did not prevent the youngster from shining, first in the quarter-final where he beat experienced Lucas Corvée in spite of trailing one game down and 9-16. Then he came through again in the semi-final against the other “Lucas”, Claerbout, once again showing great spirit in the money time and winning 22-20 in the decider.

On Sunday, against local hero, 19-year-old Arnaud Merklé, he once again proved he could cope with pressure. His vision of the game, his great left hand touch and maturity helped him win this match against the 2018 European Champion 21-14, 17-21, 21-15

As if it wasn’t enough to prove that France is a promising nation for the future – with its own Olympic Games coming up in 5 years, Thom Gicquel scooped 2 titles for the first time in Mulhouse. The 21-year-old won first with Delphine Delrue in mixed doubles, where the duo are the world’s #17 pair, before nailing a second gold medal with veteran Ronan Labar (pictured left) in the men’s doubles.

Delrue, Gicquel, Popov, along with Merklé and Christo’s older brother Toma Junior, are definitely putting France on the map for the future. They proved it with well-deserved medals in their national championships.

In the women’s doubles, Margot Lambert and Vimala Heriau (pictured right) scooped gold in the absence of France’s two best pairs, due to injury – Emilie Lefel a few weeks ago, and Léa Palermo more recently.

Qi Xuefei (pictured bottom), who took French citizenship a few months ago, won her first title without playing the final, as her opponent Marie Batomene was injured.  Still, the Chinese-born athlete was the favourite for her first final in her adopted country and had not dropped a game during the entire competition.