The town of Valence (Drôme) is hosting, from June 11 to 14, the first edition of the “Valence Alpes International presented by FZ Forza”, a badminton tournament included in the European calendar.
A new tournament which is part of the good dynamic of French badminton. While the French badistas are multiplying historic performances like the continental successes of the brothers Christo and Toma Junior Popov and Alex Lanier or the mixed pair made up of Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel, France will host the first edition of a continental tournament, to the delight of flying fans: the Valence Alpes International presented by FZ Forza.
The 3rd largest tournament in France
Launched at the initiative of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Badminton League, this BWF Continental Circuit tournament is organized in Valence from June 11 to 14 and is positioned as the 3e biggest global badminton event in France, behind the French Open and the Orléans Masters, both part of the BWF World Tour circuit.
“It’s a source of pride and a great challenge to host such an event in the region,” Florian Baud, event director, told us. In total, nearly ten employees are involved, as well as 130 volunteers and 16 referees from the European continent.
Members of the Top 50 at the meeting
For its first edition, the Valence Alpes International presented by FZ Forza will welcome nearly 250 players representing 44 nations to the Palais des Sports in Valence, spread over 5 different tables: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, as well as mixed doubles.
If the Popov brothers and Alex Lanier will not be there due to their presence at major tournaments in Asia, other names known to driving enthusiasts will be there in Valencia, like the French pair made up of Éloi Adam and Léo Rossi, 48es in the world rankings and historic winners against Indonesia during the Thomas Cup last April, or Enogat Roy, 85e world player and 5e tricolore in simple.
On the women’s side, the German Yvonne Li, former 25e player in the world ranking, will be there, as will French number 1 Anna Tatranova, aged 22 and who could appear as an outsider during the tournament.
A European innovation on steering wheels
For this first edition of the tournament, which will be organized in Valencia for the next three years, an innovation will be brought to the game with the use of synthetic carbon shuttlecocks. An experiment which the organization of the tournament welcomes.
“We are at the dawn of a revolution in the world of badminton,” explained Florian Baud, specifying that the Valentin tournament will be the first in Europe to use this new type of shuttlecock, notably for economic reasons.
“In two years, the price of feather shuttlecocks has increased due to an explosion in transport costs since Covid and a scarcity of raw materials in China,” explained the tournament director.
$20,000 endowment
The winnings in the tournament will be 20,000 dollars (17,370 euros) on all the different tables, with a reward of 1,600 dollars (1,390 euros) for the winners of the singles tables, and 1,800 dollars (1,560 euros) for the different victorious pairs in doubles.
100% digital distribution
The Valence Alpes International presented by FZ FORZA will be broadcast on the digital channel of the European federation, Badminton Europe TV. It will also be possible to follow most of the competition on social networks and on the tournament website.
