5 minutes read
In what was billed as one of the most competitive editions in recent years, the 2026 European Badminton Championships have already produced their first major shock. The English pairing of Callum Hemming and Estelle Van Leeuwen delivered a statement performance to knock out top seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in the round of 16. The French duo, European champions in 2024, were widely expected to contend for gold once again, yet fell in a gripping three-game encounter (21-17, 18-21, 22-20) that showcased the resilience and growing maturity of their British opponents.