Germany triumphed in the team relay event at the BWF AirBadminton European Continental Championships 2025 that concluded in Baku on Sunday.
Germany prevailed 60-49 over hosts Azerbaijan for the title, while Bulgaria narrowly held off Netherlands in the playoff for third place.
There were nine participating teams — Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Netherlands and Turkiye – competing in team relay, men’s triples and women’s triples.
The top three teams in the team relay event – Germany, Azerbaijan and Bulgaria – qualified to the inaugural BWF AirBadminton World Cup which will be held in Sharjah 11-14 December 2025. The AirBadminton World Cup will have 12 teams including three each from Asia and Europe, two each from Africa and Pan Am, one from Oceania and one host team.
Azerbaijan finished second in the team relay
In the final, Azerbaijan started well, taking the lead 15-12 in the men’s triples. However, Germany recovered in the second triples through Linda Efler, Julia Meyer and Florentine Schoffski (30-25). Germany’s men’s doubles pair of Felix Hammes/Brian Holtschke built on the lead to give Germany the advantage at 45-35, handing the baton to Linda Efler/Ann Kathrin Spoeri in the women’s doubles. Efler and Spoeri did not allow Keisha Fatimah Azzahra/Hajar Nuriyeva to catch up, comfortably closing out the match 60-49 in Germany’s favour.
The third place playoff was a closer battle, with Bulgaria winning by just six points. The last contest (women’s doubles) started with Bulgaria trailing Netherlands 40-45, but Mihaela CHolakova/Dimitria Popstoykova overtook their opponents Corine Breukers/Amber Derksen in the final stretch, helping Bulgaria clinch their qualifying spot at the World Cup with a 60-54 victory.
France was successful in both triples events, winning gold in men’s triples through Louis Ducrot, Nicolas Hoareau and Gregor Dunikowki and in women’s triples through Sharone Bauer, Lorraine Baumann and Charlotte Ganci. In the men’s triples final, France beat Germany 9-2 9-6 11-9, while in the women’s triples final, France beat Netherlands 9-5 9-7 9-5.
BWF Newsletter
