Huelva is from today the world capital of badminton, where the best players on the planet will pass. But this World Cup that is held from today until the 19 begins orphaned, without the great local star, a Carolina Marín that even names the pavilion in which the competition is held. “It was a shame the absence of an icon like her, but risking her injury would have been reckless,” he says Andoni Azurmendi, president of the Spanish Federation, who nevertheless thinks that the tournament will be a new impetus for this sport. “It is a new opportunity to grow, a motivation,” he assures.
Because the figure of the Huelva is so great that sometimes it does not show that Spanish badminton has the challenge of continuing to rise. “It is clear that a World Cup is an opportunity for promotion and for licenses to be increased, for example,” he analyzes Arturo Ruiz, technical director of the Federation, one of those responsible for “the medium level prosper”, with names like Clara Azurmendi, Bea Corrales… Keep moving forward and become more and more important. “We have challenges such as being more and more present in the World Tour. In the short term, have more players in the top-100 and work on doubles and team modalities “, he analyzes.
Earthly challenges. “It is that another Carolina may never appear again. I am not saying in Spain, but in Europe … I liked the way her case was explained: ‘It is as if a Senegalese came out through the front door of the Sales “, points out Azurmendi, who in addition to presiding over the federation is Clara’s father, the best Spanish participant in the ranking (45th, Carolina is sixth) and adds milestones such as recently defeating number 12 and standing up to the best rackets. The San Sebastian will also have the honor of being the first Spanish to compete in this World Cup in Huelva and with a major challenge: face the Russian Kosetskaya, 27th racket in the world (from 9:00 in Teledeporte, which will also televise the debut of the mixed doubles of Lorena Uslé and Alberto Zapico).
A broadcast that will be the majority in Asia, where the president of the Federation emphasizes that will reach “600 million households” with the impact that this will have on the city of Huelva. “And a way to show organizational capacity and leave a legacy,” he adds about an event that It is the third time it has been held in Spain (Seville 2001 and Madrid 2006).
Ambassador. “The Spanish players have prepared the appointment with the illusion of competing at home,” says Ruiz. Because as Azurmendi remembers, until the Carolina explosion, gold in the Rio Games and three-time world champion, the objective in the Olympic appointments was hardly qualification. Because nobody hides that the loss of the Andalusian has been a blow, but the player herself has confirmed that she will be very present throughout the week in a multitude of events and as a great ambassador of this competition that, despite her absence, makes her Huelva at the epicenter of world badminton.
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