With the first session already over, athletes are still looking for important wins to start off on the right foot.
The morning session of the opening day of the badminton event at the European Games 2023 started with some of badminton’s biggest names. World number one and reigning European champion Viktor Axelsen was among them. The Dane is glad to compete in this event for the first time — having had to miss the 2019 edition.
“Nice stadium, good atmosphere, easy to play, and good shuttles. Everything is good here,” the Dane said about his first day competing in Tarnow.
The first player to step off court with a win was Yvonne Li. The German player showed her joy over her solid start to the week after her win against Moldova’s Vlada Ginga, 21-11 21-6, stating: “I am very happy and honoured to play the first match in these European Games. I have never faced any of the players in my group, so I’m excited to play against them,” said Li in what’s her second European Games.
Joshua Magee won a bronze medal in men’s doubles with brother Sam Magee in Baku 2015 and this time, the Irishman will be competing with Paul Reynolds — their first match scheduled for this afternoon session. He’s also competing in mixed doubles with Moya Ryan, and the pair already secured their first win. “We’re very happy to get a good start. We did not really know too much about what to expect from the Italians, we had never played them before. We’re delighted to get the win,” Ryan said.