After three initial days of group play and a day for quarterfinals and semifinals, it became clear that the two favorites, France and Denmark, would meet in the final. However, neither team had an easy path to the final, as both faced significant challenges and were pushed to their limits throughout the tournament.
In today's final, all five matches were needed to determine the new European team champion. A huge congratulations to Denmark, the new champions!
It was a close and well-played final, with incredible energy from the spectators. The stakes were high, and it was evident that both teams felt the pressure. Below is a breakdown of how the team final unfolded:
Mixed Doubles
Tom Lalot Trescarte and Elsa Jacob demonstrated in the final why they are the top seeds and favorites to win the individual tournament. The Danes gave it their best effort but never found their rhythm in a match dominated by Jacob’s control at the net and Lalot Trescarte’s powerful smashes. The French duo secured the win 21-9, 21-12, putting France ahead 1-0.
Men’s Singles
In the men’s singles, Salomon Adam Thomasen of Denmark faced 16-year-old Arthur Tatranov. Tatranov started strong, and although Thomasen caught up toward the end of the first game, the French player managed to take it 21-19.
The Dane, however, bounced back and controlled the pace and play throughout the second and third games, winning the match 19-21, 21-8, 21-12. The team score was now tied at 1-1.
Women’s Singles
The third match was the women’s singles, described by Denmark’s Kajsa Van Dalm as a "50-50 battle." It turned out to be just that—close and thrilling from start to finish. In the end, it was Van Dalm and Denmark who emerged victorious, with a 21-19, 18-21, 21-13 win. Denmark took the lead 2-1 in the team contest.
Men’s Doubles
In the fourth match, men’s doubles, France’s Tom Lalot Trescarte and Thibault Gardon proved to be the stronger pair, securing a convincing victory 21-15, 21-18. This evened the team score at 2-2.
Women’s Doubles
It all came down to the women’s doubles. France fielded the top-seeded Elsa Jacob and Camille Pognante against Denmark’s Anna-Sofie Nielsen and Maria Højlund Tommerup. The match was full of tension, both on and off the court, with both pairs receiving enthusiastic support from their teammates.
The French duo won the first game 21-18, but the Danes fought back, narrowly taking the second game 21-19. The decisive third game saw Denmark quickly take the lead and never relinquish it. They won the game 21-14, clinching the team match 3-2 for Denmark.
Congratulations to Denmark and France for showcasing European junior badminton at its finest!
Final Podium
1. Denmark
2. France
3/4. Netherlands and Poland
The conclusion of the team tournament also marks the start of the individual European Championships, beginning today, November 30, 2024, at 3:00 PM (GMT+1).
We wish all players and coaches the best of luck in the tournament.
You can follow the action via Badminton Europe's social media channels or watch the matches live and free on BadmintonEurope.tv.