European GamesBadminton players Selina Beck and Robin Tapping became European mixed doubles champions for the first time at the European Games in Krakow. The Dutch duo won the final in the Polish city over Tom Jekyll and Delphine Delrue from France. The score was 2-1 (21-10, 13-21, 21-13).
“It’s unbelievable,” was Tapping’s first reaction. “After the decisive point I couldn’t stop smiling. We won the bronze medal together, and now it’s gold. Now we’ll celebrate for a while and then move on to the next victory, so to speak. But this medal will always be very special for us.”
Beck said it was a very good match. “Normally you don’t play your best game in the final, but we played very well in the first and decisive game. They came back well in the second game, so you know they will do it in the last game. We stayed calm and played our own game and were always on top.” But the real joy came when we scored the 21st point.”
In addition to the gold, Beck and Tapling also earned valuable points in the battle to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics. Tapling: “This provides some relief for Paris. No relief yet, because we’re really not there yet. But this is a very nice start. The mixed doubles field is strong. And that’s exactly what makes this European title even more valuable.
It is the second medal in Krakow for Dutch badminton players after the women’s doubles silver medal of Deborah Gill/Cheryl Senen. Beck also won gold at the European Games in Minsk in 2019. She then did so with partner Cheryl Senin in the women’s doubles.
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