Andoni Azurmendi poses next to the Náutico de San Sebastián. /
Andoni Azurmendi | Donostiarra and President of the Spanish Badminton Federation
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Organizing a World Cup and a European in a period of three months is not easy in any discipline. Andoni Azurmendi, president of the Spanish Badminton Federation (San Sebastián, 1967), takes stock, values the growth of this sport and talks about Carolina Marín, one of the best, and about Clara, her daughter, who is in a clear ascending line.
– You became president of the Spanish Federation in October 2020. What balance do you make?
– It is very positive. There has been a restructuring in the Federation and we have formed a good team, there was inertia and it worked well, but when someone comes in, they give it their touch. I like teamwork, I have surrounded myself with the best and everything is geared. The balance could not be more positive.
– When he entered he demanded changes. Are some palpable?
– I come from the Basque Federation, which is like having a scooter, and now I have an ocean liner. The Federation is now made to function by the workers of the Federation, before the weight of the politicians was too important and conditioned the operation, there was no freedom of work. I didn’t like that. Those responsible must be the workers of the Federation.
– In December the World Cup was held in Huelva. What note do you give it?
– At an organizational level, a 10. In the organization of events we are world leaders. The European championship in a month was going to be held in Finland and in two months we have organized it in Madrid because the European Federation asked us to. They know how we work. In sports, it was a shame that Carolina Marín could not reappear in Huelva, her home, and that has tarnished it. But the matches were good.
– The two finalists in men and women were Asian. How far are they?
– For now, yes. This rainbow that we have had with Carolina Marín never happens again. With all the Asian dominance there is no one who has stood up to them like her. Nadal, Ángel Nieto or Pau Gasol only happen once in a lifetime. Before, the Games were in the air due to the dominance of Chinese badminton, now look at Carolina or Clara.
«Before the weight of the Federation was carried by the politicians, now the operation is in the hands of the workers»
– What is missing then?
– Well, there are not so many boys and girls who want to compete at the federative level in badminton. Although I think it is growing a lot and becoming popular. Many schoolchildren are giving it in the ikastolas, it is easy to practice and it lasts a long time. It can be played by everyone.
– Now comes the European in Madrid. This doesn’t stop.
– It has been a tremendous organizational challenge, we have organized it in sixty days. The event has been supported from the beginning and the expense has been important, it could only go to a big city like Madrid.
– Does Carolina Marín have options or is it complicated coming from two such serious injuries?
– Carolina is always a favorite, when she goes out on the track she is a favorite. The problem is that it is her first tournament since April of last year and she has suffered two serious injuries to her knee and had additional problems. It is a good level to reappear, because the Asians are not there. Let’s see how he responds, you have to win five games in a row in five days.
– Can she recover her level and be the best in the world?
– I would like to say yes, but it is complicated. The level that she had was at the top. It is a sport with a lot of impact, a lot of jumping, the knees suffer and the rivals will look for tickles. There are Korean and Chinese players who are very strong and everyone wants to beat Carolina Marín.
«Clara is at her best, at number 42 in the ranking. She is among the top 10 in Europe »
– They have 11 representatives, how are the options?
– Our best assets are Carolina, Clara and Bea. In the men’s singles we are also well placed, but it will be difficult. The draws and the crosses can be capricious, to see if there are options.
– I ask him about Clara. How does she see her at 23 years old?
– In clear progression, she is at her best moment in the world ranking, in 42nd place. She is competing in the Super Series, she has just advanced rounds in the All England and this year she has won the 12th in the world and a set against Sindhu , which is a medal in the last two Olympic Games. He has had a turning point and now he is getting a lot of results, if he has no problems physically he can advance in the draw. He is among the top ten in Europe, without a doubt. Having participated in the Games fills him with morale.
– And competing.
– Of course, when you see that you fight against the best in the world, you stand up to them and some win, well you grow. It is obvious that there are others who are stars and seem unattainable, but you never know. He is in a sweet moment.
“Badminton has exploded. People try, sign up and compete. It’s a wheel”
– What are your main strengths?
– I would say perseverance. I speak to you from a personal degree. She went to Madrid at the age of 13 to bet on her dream and that also means a change at the family level and it has been hard. But then when you see him competing in Tokyo – a large part of the family was there – well, all the effort makes sense. She has a lot of willpower. In sports, with her 1.84 meters she has a strong hit from behind, but of course, with that height she has less mobility than some rivals.
– How much has badminton been able to change in terms of follow-up and practice?
– Carolina’s figure has made badminton practice explode. She is a media girl, she has had a presence in the media and has made the sport known. She generates a hobby, but a base must be made so that there are more federative licenses. People play games, enroll in schools, and then compete. It is a wheel.
