Remember the name – this young lady has already medaled at the European Junior Championships and the European Women’s Team Championships.

Despite being only 18, Juliette Moinard has already found out how success feels like. Winning the European Junior Championships and being part of the medaling French women’s team at the 2020 European Women’s Team Championships on home soil, she has already won medals that a lot of players will not even get close to.

- Winning the European Juniors in mixed doubles with Fabien Delrue was one of my best results and I am so grateful and proud of it, Moinard mentioned when being asked about the title she won back in 2018.

Staying humble
Looking at the list of mixed doubles champions at the European Junior Championships you will find female profiles like Alina Davletova (2017), Maiken Fruergaard (2013), Line Kjærsfeldt (2011), Selena Piek (2009) and maybe the biggest name of them all; Christinna Pedersen (2005). They all are or have been part of the absolute top of European badminton, but instead of labelling herself as a future star, young Moinard stays humble.

- Comparing me to others I cannot qualify myself as a talent, but I am more a hard-working person, she said.

- I had many opportunities to improve thanks to people who really believe in me, and I think that, combined with my perfectionism, helped me to make these performances a reality.

Prefers mixed doubles
Juliette Moinard and Fabien Delrue were the first French pair to win the European Junior mixed doubles title, and for Moinard there is no doubt that her future lies in mixed doubles.

- If I could, I would focus on it because it is definitely my preferred discipline. I have played a lot of mixed at junior level principally to prepare for the World Junior Championships, she explained.

- The French federation decides my partnerships and as my chosen partner does not train in the same centre like me, I am most of the time only training in women’s doubles even though I continue to play mixed doubles in tournaments. I just hope that next year mixed doubles could become my main focus, Moinard added.

Still a lot to learn
Although she will not qualify herself as a talent, there is no doubt that the French federation and the European badminton community have an expectation for Moinard. But despite the medals and titles she also knows that success does not come overnight.

- I still have to learn a lot about badminton, about me and about being professional in general. I would like to become more confident and trust my potential because most of the time I am too negative with myself, Moinard said.

- I am still trying to know myself and I am still growing. I have to learn more about physical preparation and to pay attention to what I eat just to give an example.

On court, the next big goal for Juliette Moinard is to reach the top 100 in the world and to be part of the French senior team. As of today’s date, 18-year old Moinard is ranked 114 on the women’s doubles world ranking, while she is ranked 253 on the mixed doubles ranking.