Tag: Robin Tabeling

Selena Piek Ends Professional Badminton Career at Dutch Open
Last weekend, Selena Piek marked the end of an era in badminton as she concluded her professional career at the 75th YONEX Dutch Open.
Amid family, friends, and a home crowd, Piek played her final match on familiar soil, where she first gained recognition and showcased her remarkable doubles skills.
A Decade of Partnerships and Achievements
Throughout her career, Piek has been known for her skill in doubles, often teamed with various partners. In women’s doubles, she partnered with Iris Tabeling, Eefje Muskens, and Cheryl Seinen; in mixed doubles, she found success with Jacco Arends and Robin Tabeling—the latter sharing the court with her in her final tournament. Together, they achieved significant wins, earning her a reputation as a fierce competitor on both European and world stages.
Piek’s talent became evident during her junior years in 2009. That year, she won silver in girls’ doubles with Iris Tabeling and secured a gold medal in mixed doubles with Jacco Arends at the European Junior Championships. These early accomplishments laid the foundation for her senior career, where she ultimately amassed seven European Championship medals and captured gold at the European Games with Robin Tabeling last year.
YONEX NANOFLARE 1000 Z Commemorative Edition in Red
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Piek also made an impact off the court. From 2016 to 2020, she served as a member of the Badminton Europe Athletes’ Commission, advocating for players across the continent. She further represented the Netherlands in three Olympic Games.
Reflecting on her retirement, Piek shared mixed emotions, admitting that stepping away from professional badminton won’t be easy. “It’s going to feel strange,” she said, noting that while she’ll still compete in some national leagues, transitioning from the professional circuit is a big change. “It will be a huge transition; I’ve been dedicated to this since I was 15. I foresee some challenges, but I’m also looking forward to enjoying life without the demands of professional badminton.”
At 33, Selena Piek may be leaving professional badminton, but her impressive performances and memorable wins on the court will not be forgotten.
Selena Piek
October 30, 2024
Thrilling Performances on Denmark Open Opening Day
The exciting first day of the Denmark Open is nearing its conclusion, with spectators treated to thrilling, high-quality badminton action. Many European players participated, and several have already advanced to Thursday’s second round.
The French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue were on the verge of elimination after losing the first set and trailing 19-14 in the second. They then fell behind 20-17 in the second game but made a fierce comeback with nothing to lose, which was exactly what they needed to turn the match around. You can watch their full interview on Badminton Europe’s YouTube channel.
Mia Blichfeldt also secured a much-needed victory—her first win since the Olympics and her first under coach Popov. Alex Lanier and Viktor Axelsen both won their first matches in straight sets and are set to face off on Thursday for the first time since 2022.
Alexandra Bøje and Robin Tabeling made their debut as new partners, defeating Germany’s Jones Ralfy Jansen and Nhan Tuan Phuong with a convincing 21-11, 21-14 victory. Another relatively new pair, Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund, impressed by defeating the strong Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-19, 13-21, 21-12. In the next round, they will face Spain’s Rubén García and Lucía Rodríguez.
In addition to these results, several other European players have secured spots in Thursday’s second round.
Wednesday’s schedule is packed with more European stars. Germany’s Yvonne Li will face the 2017 champion Ratchanok Intanon, while Christo Popov will challenge the in-form seventh seed Lee Zii Jia. His brother Toma Junior Popov has a tough first-round match against world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. The Popov brothers also face a challenge in doubles, where they will meet the world No. 2 pair Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Kim Astrup.
Additionally, the energetic British pair Ben Lane and Sean Vendy will face tough competition against Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.
Viktor Axelsen
October 16, 2024
Bøje and Tabeling Look Forward After Debut as a Team
The CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024 began today with qualification rounds, followed by the opening matches of the main draw.
While European players experienced both victories and defeats, some saw positives even in loss. Among them were the newly paired Robin Tabeling from the Netherlands and Alexandra Bøje from Denmark. Their partnership was formed as Mathias Christiansen, Bøje’s usual partner, is suspended until July next year.
Tabeling and Bøje have been training for their debut at the Danish National Centre in Brøndby. “The intensity there is just on another level,” Tabeling remarked about their preparation.
Reflecting on their first match together, Tabeling shared, “We were excited, but seeing the draw, we knew it could have been better.” They were up against the second-seeded pair from China, Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, who have been in strong form recently. Tabeling added, “It wouldn’t surprise me if they win the whole tournament.”
Despite the challenge, the new duo performed admirably, ultimately falling 17-21, 16-21. Tabeling commented, “We had a strong start, great energy, and we stuck to our game plan.”
Bøje was also upbeat about their performance. “We moved well on the court, and that’s something we can build on. For our first match as a team, we’re pleased with how we played. We’re hungry for the next competition,” she concluded, looking forward to the upcoming Denmark Open.
Robin Tabeling
Alexandra BØJE
October 9, 2024
Danish National Badminton Team in Disarray?
Mia’s Departure and New Chapter in France
Following a successful Paris Olympics where Denmark secured a gold medal in badminton thanks to Viktor Axelsen, the Danish team faces significant changes. Denmark’s top female singles player, Mia, has announced her departure from the national team to relocate to France and train with her boyfriend, France’s top male player, Christo Popov.
Initially, Mia did not qualify for the Paris Olympics, but the Danish Badminton Association chose her over higher-ranked Line Kjaersfeldt due to her superior skill. Unfortunately, Mia was eliminated in the group stage. After the Olympics, Mia revealed her plans to leave the Danish national team and move to France to train alongside Boppar.
Challenges for Denmark’s Mixed Doubles
Denmark’s mixed doubles pair, the “golden couple” Christophersen and Boel, are facing unprecedented challenges. Christoffersen was forced to withdraw from the Olympics and received a 12-month suspension due to repeated violations of doping regulations, which has severely impacted their partnership.
As a result, Boel is now partnering with Dutch veteran Robin Tabeling. Tabeling, who was previously ranked in the world’s top 20 and won the mixed doubles title at the 2023 European Games, had considered retiring after a disappointing performance at the Olympics. Boel and Tabeling plan to compete in the 2024 Finnish Open and Danish Open to maintain their rankings until Christoffersen’s return.
Impact on Denmark’s National Team
Mia’s departure, combined with Christoffersen’s unexpected ban and Axelsen and Antonsen’s long-term training commitments in Dubai, has left the Danish badminton team in a fragmented state. Although the team appears unified on the surface, the leading players are pursuing their individual goals, which has hindered the development of younger talents.
With top players like Axelsen and Antonsen focused on their personal training, and key figures like Mia and Christoffersen pursuing separate paths, Denmark’s young players face a challenging environment for growth. The lack of intense competition and guidance from top players may jeopardize the future of Danish badminton, making it difficult for the next generation to carry forward the legacy of Danish excellence in the sport.
August 27, 2024