The Spanish national team came close to qualifying for the grand final of the European Junior Team Championships in Belgrade but, after losing in the semi-finals to France by a tight 2-3 score, they had to settle for bronze. The team coached by Ernesto García, together with Salva Franco and Rafa Vázquez, included the country’s most outstanding athletes in these categories: Nikol Carulla and Rubén García in the mixed doubles, Lucía Rodríguez in the women’s singles and Ricardo Rettig in the men’s doubles. In the doubles event, the women’s team was made up of Lucía Rodríguez and Nikol Carulla, while the men’s team was made up of Dani Franco and Rubén García.
Both couples were the ones who made history at the European Junior Championships in Belgrade in the individual category. The Rodriguez-Carulla duo took gold by beating England’s Lisa Curtin and Estelle Van Leeuwen in the final. They won the set with a tight 21-19, winning again in the second set with a 21-16.
In the men’s doubles category, Dani Franco and Rubén García won the silver medal after losing in the final to the main favourites, the Danes Houe and Kjaer, by 12-21 and 12-21.
A runner-up finish which perfectly complemented the gold medal won by their teammates. Both medals are the first for Spanish badminton in doubles, which confirms the great work of the sports area of the FESBA, directed by Arturo Ruiz.
