England reach semi-finals of European Mixed Team Championships

England reached the semi-finals of the European Mixed Team Championships in Baku, before bowing out to France in the last four.

The fourteen-strong team qualified second from their group, getting past Spain and Azerbaijan to finish behind Denmark and qualify for the knockouts.

That set up a tie with France for a place in the final, with the French coming out 3-0 winners.

The campaign started strongly against Azerbaijan, with Abbygael Harris and Estelle van Leeuwen winning the decider 21-6 21-9 against Leyla Jamalzade and Hajar Nuriyeva to seal a 3-2 team victory.

Rory Easton and Lizzie Tolman opened brightly with a 21-21 and 21-9 victory in the mixed doubles before Harry Huang and Freya Redfearn both lost their singles matches, before Callum Hemming and Ethan van Leeuwen earned men’s doubles victory to tie up the contest and set up Harris and Van Leeuwen in the decider.

Denmark then sealed a 5-0 victory in the second group match. Nadeem Dal battled to a 21-13 21-16 defeat against Rasmus Gemke before Leona Lee fell to Line Christophersen 21-7 21-10.

The Danes then completed their victory with wins in all three doubles matches to leave the English team facing a decisive encounter with Spain.

Callum Hemming and Estelle van Leeuwen gave England the perfect start, battling back from a game down to defeat Ruben Garcia and Lucia Rodriguez 18-21 21-16 21-19.

Pablo Abian fought back for Spain with a hard-fought 18-21 21-18 21-11 win over Harry Huang but Leona Lee secured a 21-18 21-19 win over Clara Azurmendi to put England on the brink of the last four.

Callum Hemming and Ethan van Leeuwen sealed the semi-final spot with a 21-13 21-11 win over Daniel Franco and Rodrigo Sanjurjo before England’s run was ended by France in the last four.