Badminton warm-up in Tarnow. Behind us Orlen Polish Open

There are only 86 days left until the European Games in Krakow and Malopolska. The atmosphere around the biggest multidisciplinary event of the year is growing every day. A small foretaste of the summer emotions took place at the Jaskolka Arena in Tarnow where badminton tournaments were held.

The Orlen Polish Open is actually the International Badminton Championships of Poland. More than 400 players from 47 countries around the world competed for five days in Tarnów’s Jaskółka Arena. Gold medals were won by representatives of Denmark, France and Singapore. Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard from Denmark turned out to be the best in the doubles, while among the ladies, Yu Jia Jin and Jia Ying Crystal Wong from Singapore triumphed. The men’s singles game was won by Alex Lanier of France, and Jia Min Yeo (Singapore) among the women. The mixed game final was won by the duo from Denmark – Christine Busch and Mads Vestergaard, who became double International Champions.

Polish fans enjoyed the game of our compatriots until the quarterfinals stage. Dominika Kwasnik and Kornelia Marczak succumbed to Abbygael Harris and Anna Lado from England 21-14 and 21-12, while Miłosz Bochat and Robert Cybulski, after a fierce encounter, proved weaker than players from Taiwan – Chang Ko-Chi and Po Li-Wei 21-14, 17-21, 21-13. Earlier, Paulina Hankiewicz and Magdalena Świerczyńska and Szymon Ślepecki and Paweł Śmiłowski dropped out.

The venue of the tournament was no accident. During the European Games, it is in Tarnów’s Jaskolka Arena that badminton competitions will be held. So it was a kind of warm-up before the upcoming emotions.

– The hall is beautiful, modern and well adapted for such a tournament. Intentionally, our association wanted to organize the event here because in June the European Games and competition in our discipline will be held here. It is good to get acquainted with the hall beforehand. We are close to the hotel, the conditions are really very good – said Jacek Hankiewicz, coach of the Polish team and participant in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

– Europe’s top athletes, who are also among the world’s top athletes, will come to us. This proves that badminton will be at the highest level. Every athlete will want to show their best in Tarnow to earn a trip to Paris. The hall is ideal for watching, there is very good transparency. Fans will be satisfied, so we invite you to the fastest rocket sport in the world – encourages Hankiewicz.

The European Games are a prelude to the Olympic Games, which will be held in 2024 in Paris.

– In a way, the European Games are replacing the European Championships for us, and everyone is coming to this event. There will be no one missing who is at the top of the European top. That’s why it’s worth following badminton in Tarnow – added the Olympian from Barcelona.

The badminton competition will begin on June 26 at the Jaskolka Arena in Tarnow and will last a week. More than 140 players will take part in the struggle.

Tickets for the competition at the European Games can be purchased HERE.