The old foes are in an all European showdown once again in Peru
It is possibly Europe’s longest running Para badminton rivalry. It is France versus Germany. And this time, it is with vital remaining Paralympic ranking points at stake.
David Toupe (FRA) and Thomas Wandschneider (GER) have met in the European Championships WH1 men’s singles final for as long as records of such things exist. We have been treated to some thrilling match-ups in the past, and the last time they met in Uganda was no exception.
Wandschneider has prevailed over the past two years and won the last three meetings. He is currently number five in the world rankings and third pick in the Race to Tokyo, assuming single nationalities. Toupe is ranked ninth currently, and fifth pick for the Paralympic Games.
The two men go head to head again in the next round in Peru, a match which may have significant meaning as we edge nearer the end of the qualifying journey.
Read: Astrup and Rasmussen scrape past Koreans into quarterfinal
Double the pressure
Neither man is assured a place in Tokyo via the men’s singles rankings however, as WH1-2 men’s doubles take priority and both are fighting hard in that event. Toupe, with Thomas Jakobs has the upper hand currently, ranked ninth and fourth pick for the Race to Tokyo, again assuming single nationality rules.
The French pair are struggling through the Peru international having negotiated the group stage in second place after a defeat to Lee and Jeong (KOR). They lose their seeded position as we await the draw for the knockout stages.
Wandschneider with partner Young-Chin Mi have mirrored the French performance this week in the group stages, having lost to Junthong and Homhual (THA). The German pair need two good performances in both remaining events, here in Peru and next month in Spain, to have any hope of a place in Tokyo.
With the redraw for WH1-2 men’s doubles is due overnight, so we await the news of a possible men’s doubles match up which would be exciting for European fans.
Look out for updates from the Peru Para badminton International 2020 this week, see tournament software here for draws and results.