England claimed their place at the upcoming 2025 European Mixed Team Championships with an undefeated showing at the recent qualification event in Milton Keynes.
Up against Poland, Austria and Israel, the host nation produced three stunning victories to clinch their spot in February’s championships, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The tournament, held at the English National Badminton Centre, was one of six qualification stages with the winners from each qualifying for the major.
England boasted 16 players across the three days, including Paris 2024 Olympians Sean Vendy and Ben Lane.
They opened their campaign with a 4-1 win over Poland. Harry Huang took the win in the men’s singles before their opposition levelled the scores in the women’s singles, with Freya Redfearn falling to Ulyana Volskaya.
But England bounced back with three successive wins in a row in the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles to triumph in their first team match.
It was a similar tale in their second match against Austria, going from strength to strength in the doubles.
Abbygael Harris and Estelle Van Leeuwen produced an emphatic 21-6 21-11 victory over Serena Au Yeong and Lena Rumpold, while Lane and Vendy brushed aside Gustav Andree and Kai Niederhuber 21-15 21-13.
With two wins already to their name, England faced Israel and knew a win would seal their place in next year’s Championships. And a 4-1 victory over their final opponents sealed the deal.
Chloe Coney and Ethan Van Leeuwen cruised past Danylo Dubynskyi and Alina Bergelson in just 19 minutes, with Van Leeuwen returning soon after, alongside Callum Hemming, to win the men’s doubles in another quick 19 minute match-up.
With a hat-trick of victories to their name, the team will now look ahead to producing a similar performance in February.