The European Mixed Team Championships Qualification commences next week. We take a look at all the teams in Group 2.
The European Mixed Team Championships, which started in 1972, is played in February in uneven years. The eight best teams in Europe will be competing to become European Champions from 16 to 20 February 2021 in Vantaa, Finland.
The winning team in each of the qualification groups will advance to the finals, joining hosts Finland and reigning champions Denmark.
Qualification Group 2 will be held at the YONEX-centre in Aartselaar, Belgium. The group contains the hosts, Belgium, along with Poland, Russia and Switzerland. Here is a rundown of the teams:
Belgium
The hosting nation will have its work cut out against previous medalists at the EMTC in Russia and Poland, but will try to capitalise on their home advantage.
Belgium’s star player is Lianne Tan in the women’s singles. The 2015 European Games silver medallist recorded two strong quarterfinal results at the Denmark and SaarLorLux Open in October and will aim to bring this form with her into the team event. Another experienced player features in the men’s singles with Maxime Moreels, who was this year’s finalist at the Iran Fajr International.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)
MS: MAXIME MOREELS (97)
WS: LIANNE TAN (45)
MD: MARIJN PUT/ DYLAN ROSIUS (930)
WD: LISE JACQUES/ FLORE VANDENHOUCKE (164)
XD: JONA VAN NIEUWKERKE/ LISE JACQUES (129)
Poland
Under new Head Coach Steve Butler, the Polish team aims to make their first steps towards returning to their best years. Over a decade ago Poland took two bronze medals in 2008 and 2009.
The squad is likely to be a blend of young talent with experienced players. In the men’s singles, Michal Rogalski, 33, was part of the 2010 silver medal-winning European men’s team. Also, with Dziolko, 30, an Olympian from Rio this category brings a lot of know-how to the team.
Adam Cwalina, who is the only player still standing from Poland’s bronze at the 2008 European Mixed Team Championship, was partnerless for much of 2019 and 2020, and in fact, the last tournament he has played was the 2019 Irish Open with Belgium’s Freek Golinski. They came together through their similar situations and Polish heritage. Whether either player will feature remains to be seen.
Poland, who traditionally have been strong in the mixed doubles, have their strongest hopes of points with the 2019 Kharkiv International winners, Smilowski/ Swierczynska, both 22.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)
MS: MICHAL ROGALSKI (119)
WS: WIKTORIA DABCZYNSKA (118)
MD: PAWEL PIETRYJA/ JAN RUDZINSKI (127)
WD: ALEKSANDRA GOSZCZYNSKA/ KAROLINA SZUBERT (159)
XD: PAWEL SMILOWSKI/ MAGDALENA SWIERCZYNSKA (68)
Russia
The strong favourites in the group will be eyeing up another stellar performance at the EMTC to continue their run of six back-to-back podiums which began in 2009. Their best result was the silver in 2017 and pending a winning performance in Belgium, they will be believing in gold come Finland in February next year.
In four out of the five categories, they have players and pairs within the top 30 in the world. Leaders of the team are Ivanov/ Sozonov, who in 2020, either side of the pause in play, scored a semifinal finish at the All England Open and then a runners-up place at the Denmark Open.
A dependable category for Russia has always been women’s doubles. Bolotova/ Davletova add great flexibility in that they allow seamless rotation in the mixed doubles with Rodion Alimov and Vladimir Ivanov.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)
MS: SERGEY SIRANT (68)
WS: EVGENIYA KOSETSKAYA (25)
MD: VLADIMIR IVANOV/ IVAN SOZONOV (24)
WD: EKATERINA BOLOTOVA/ ALINA DAVLETOVA (29)
XD: RODION ALIMOV/ ALINA DAVLETOVA (23)
Switzerland
The standout player for Switzerland is Sabrina Jaquet, who is likely to be busy in the women’s singles as well as the women’s doubles. In a year of uncertainty, one certainty is that when Jaquet plays Lianne Tan for the Switzerland-Belgium clash, it will be a must-watch marathon match. They have played eight times in total and twice recently at the Denmark and SaarLorLux Open. Both times the matches were greatly fought and went to deciding games. This tie will be a key focus for both teams.
Strongest line-up (based on World Rankings 04.12.2020)
MS: CHRISTIAN KIRCHMAYR (131)
WS: SABRINA JAQUET (49)
MD: NICOLAS MUELLER/ JULIEN SCHEIWILLER (226)
WD: ALINE MULLER/ JENJIRA STADELMANN (142)
XD: OLIVER SCHALLER/ CELINE BURKART (156)
Group 2 will be played out 10-12 December (local time):
Thursday 10th December 2020
Russia vs Poland 14:00
Switzerland vs Belgium 19:00
Friday 11th December 2020
Switzerland vs Poland 14:00
Russia vs Belgium 19:00
Saturday 12th December 2020
Russia vs Switzerland 14:00
Belgium vs Poland 19:00
For more information about the EMTCQ, click
here.