As a final highlight of the 2023 BEC Congress, the BEC Awards Gala took place on Saturday evening in Baku. The Gala is held to not only recognise the dedication of those who have contributed to the development of our sport in Europe, but also as an opportunity to showcase the achievements and highlights of the most memorable moments of the year 2022.
The Awards ceremony was headlined by Viktor Axelsen winning his third Male Player of the Year Award. “Thank you so much to everyone that thought that I deserved this, I really appreciate it. It gives me a lot of motivation to work hard,” said the world number one player.
Isabel Lohau was elected Female player of the Year and is only the second player from Germany to receive this award since singles player Juliana Schenk back in 2012.
Next in the BEC Awards, Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen were inducted to the BEC Hall of Fame for their amazing achievements throughout their professional career.
To name just a few, Juhl was World Champion in mixed doubles in 2009 and European Champion in mixed doubles in 2006 and 2010, Pedersen was European Champion in mixed doubles in 2014 and won the Super Series Finals in mixed doubles in 2009, 2012, and 2013 and together they won the silver medal at the World Championships 2015, the silver medal at the Rio Olympics 2016, the All England title in 2018, and four European Championships.
The evening was surely a special one for everyone involved as the hosts prepared a great show and created an amazing atmosphere in the JW Marriot Absheron Hotel in Baku.
Taleh Ziyadov, President of the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation, was happy to see all participants enjoy their evening: “As a host, it is the most important part to put a smile on your faces and if we achieved that with our team and you also learned something new about Azerbaijan and strengthened the friendship we’ve had, that is already a big plus.”
List of Award nominees and winners:
BEC Male Player of the Year
BEC Female Player of the Year
BEC Young Player of the Year
BEC Senior Player of the Year
BEC Para Badminton Player of the Year
BEC Coach of the Year
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Jeppe Ludvigsen
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P.K. Rohde
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Sune Gavnholt
BEC Diversity Award
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“Badminton and living together” - a project to bring students from Jewish and Arab schools together to play badminton, create acceptance, diversity, and exchange between cultures
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Oleksii Dniprov - president Ukrainian Badminton Federation
BEC Fan Player of the Year
BEC Technical Official Award