World No.85 Rosy Oktavia Pancasari handed second seed Mia Blichfeldt a shock loss in the third round of the 2024 European Championships yesterday, jeopardising the Dane’s chances of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Blichfeldt, who is No.15 in the Race to Paris, was beaten 19-21 21-15 21-12 by France’s Pancasari, winner of the YONEX Estonian International earlier this year.
Line Kjaersfeldt
Blichfeldt’s loss was a setback to her Olympics qualification as compatriot Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt, who trails her by just 1213 points, progressed into the quarterfinals. Kjaersfeldt eased past Turkey’s Ozge Bayrak 21-13 21-15 to set up a quarterfinal against compatriot Julie Dawall Jakobsen.
Pancasari faces Turkey’s Neslihan Arin, while in the same half, sixth seed Line Christophersen takes on fourth seed Kirsty Gilmour.
In men’s singles, Toma Junior Popov did his Olympic chances a world of good as he made the quarterfinals. Toma currently trails his brother Christo by 2805 points; Christo’s second round loss to Alex Lanier gives his brother the opportunity to overtake him in the Race to Paris.
→Results (Round 3)
→Order of Play (Quarterfinals)
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