Spain's two-time world champion badminton queen Carolina Marin is hoping to sweep aside the competition to retain her title at the 25th European championships in the La Roche-sur-Yon, western France, this week.
Marin lost her world number one status to Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon last week, but is still the hot favourite for gold as the only female European player in the world's top 10.
However, Marin believes she is more than capable of handling the pressure given her experience of regularly facing the Asian powerhouses of the sport.
"The pressure depends on how you know how to handle it. It is clear that the Asians are the best because it is the dominant sport there," Marin told AFP.
"The pressure is different against the Europeans. Right now I am the favourite and everyone looks at me like that, but it is a different type of pressure to facing the Asians."
Moreover, a second European title would be the perfect preparation as she builds up for her biggest challenge of her career -- to land gold at the Rio Olympics in August.
"I will go for it at the European Championships and I hope to be on the top of the podium," she added.
"Clearly it won't be easy because nothing is, but I am desperate to be on top once more and use that confidence in preparing for the Olympics.
"I come into the European championships in very good shape. It is one of the objectives of my season and I want to approach it ambitiously."
Spain’s two-time world champion badminton queen Carolina Marin is hoping to sweep aside the competition to retain her title at the 25th European championships in the La Roche-sur-Yon, western France, this week.
Marin lost her world number one status to Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon last week, but is still the hot favourite for gold as the only female European player in the world’s top 10.
However, Marin believes she is more than capable of handling the pressure given her experience of regularly facing the Asian powerhouses of the sport.
“The pressure depends on how you know how to handle it. It is clear that the Asians are the best because it is the dominant sport there,” Marin told AFP.
“The pressure is different against the Europeans. Right now I am the favourite and everyone looks at me like that, but it is a different type of pressure to facing the Asians.”
Moreover, a second European title would be the perfect preparation as she builds up for her biggest challenge of her career — to land gold at the Rio Olympics in August.
“I will go for it at the European Championships and I hope to be on the top of the podium,” she added.
“Clearly it won’t be easy because nothing is, but I am desperate to be on top once more and use that confidence in preparing for the Olympics.
“I come into the European championships in very good shape. It is one of the objectives of my season and I want to approach it ambitiously.”
