A last attempt by Toma Junior Popov lob landed outside the field. Alex Lanier throws his racket, squat then then puts his hands on his mouth and his eyes before getting up and thanking his Lithuanian coach Kestis Navickas. It’s historic! Alex Lanier offered this Sunday in Horsens (Denmark) to France on Sunday the first gold medal as individual men in a European championship. The young French prodigy aged 20, recent 10th world player won in the final at the expense of Toma Junior in two sets (21-17, 21-18).
Twenty-four earlier, the Norman had taken the best on his little brother Christo at the end of a very tight and breathtaking match almost an hour and a half (21-15, 21-23, 21-19) where he had to draw very far from his reservations, physical and mental. But this Sunday, Alex Lanier was ready for combat to win the most beautiful metals against his compatriot, 19th world player. In a balanced first round (13-13), the favorite will make the difference thanks to several thunderous smashs (21-17). Bis repetita in the second set. Still in front of the score, he wins (21-18). Toma Junior Popov wins the silver medal like last year and his little brother Christo the bronze medal. The two brothers will however have the opportunity to glean a title of European champion together during the final of the double man at the end of the evening.
For Alex Lanier, this is a new triumph. Since the end of the Paris Olympics in which he had not participated, the Norman has continued his impressive progression among the best players on the Bad planet. After having become 7 months ago the first Frenchman to win a Super 750 tournament in Japan, notably beating the world number 1, the Chinese Shi Yu Qi, and one of the youngest in history to win in this category, the second most prestigious of the circuit, the native of Caen (Calvados) won the Masters of Orleans (super 300) The England Open (Super 1000) before becoming champion of France by beating the Popov brothers. He gave this this week to the Euro by overcoming Christo then Toma Junior Popov in the final. A consecration even if the two favorites in the competition, the Danes Anders Antonsen (2nd world player) and Viktor Axelsen (world number 3), forfeit in the quarterfinals (sick) and before the start of the test (injured). “I participated in this competition with pain, I was not mentally indeed either but I am proud of my week, savored the winner. We found solutions with my coach. Certainly the two best Danish were not there but I am delighted to win this title of European champion. »»
Alex Lanier is now launched towards the Worlds who will compete next August (from 25 to 31) at the Adidas Arena at Porte de Chapelle (Paris XVIIIth) with the hope of further entering the history of his sport by becoming the first French to win a world medal.