A controversy arose this Wednesday evening after the loss of brothers Toma Junior and Christo Popov against the Chinese pair Jiting - Xiangyu (20-11, 22-20) in the first round of the men's doubles tournament of the French Open badminton at the Adidas Arena.
In the mixed zone, Toma Junior, the eldest of the Popov brothers, spoke to discuss “some problems”.
“We didn’t want to leave our coaches on our chair during the doubles,” he said.
It wasn't something very positive for us and our father (their head coach) before starting a match of this quality.
There is a lot to review behind the scenes.
I hope this will be resolved before the European Championships (in April) because it’s starting to feel good…”
The 26th player in the world continues: “We were told an hour before the start of our match that our uncle (Mihail Popov) and our English coach (Peter Jeffrey) were forbidden to sit in our chair with our father.
It is a decision of the French federation.
We don't understand.
We try to do the best we can.
The two of them train us all year round and today they can't..."
“There is a labor law”
Alerted to the comments of the French champion, Yohan Penel, the president of the French badminton federation reacted in the following minutes.
“We understand the boys’ disappointment after three defeats in the first round (2 in singles and one in doubles), he says.
Today we have a doubles coach at Insep, an employee of the federation and a member of their family (Mihail Popov), who is currently on sick leave so he could not coach Christo and Toma Junior.
There is labor law.
But their main coach, their father Toma senior, was there.
Their English coach is a former member of the federation but his functions were stopped by the Ministry of Sports.
He will coach them next week in England.
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Despite the controversy, the president of the federation appears understanding.
“It’s a difficult time for them.
In singles, they find themselves in a fratricidal duel (only one of the two will qualify for the Paris Olympics).
We want to reassure them: in the name of the federation, we will support them whatever happens throughout their career and until the end of Olympic qualification.
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