Episode 68 of the ShuttleSquad Podcast is here! Thommy is joined by Kirsty Gilmour and Marvin Seidel for a catch-up packed with badminton talk, personal stories and a few controversial opinions.

Kirsty is back on court at the Arctic Open in Finland, while the gang discusses recent badminton performances and the latest developments on the international tour.Marvin shares some exciting personal news as he prepares to become a dad, while the gang catches up on life beyond badminton — from golf to wedding celebrations. They also dive into the growing world of alternative racket sports and debate whether they help or distract from traditional badminton.

Plus, we discuss the HYLO Open’s ambitious live coverage plans and why making badminton more accessible to fans around the world matters.Subscribe to ShuttleSquad for more badminton conversations every two weeks.

Thommy is joined by Kirsty Gilmour and Christo Popov to talk about the latest weeks on tour, the World Championships, life under the spotlight, and the reality of dealing with online abuse and betting-related messages.

Christo reflects on his World Championship exit, his rise to World No. 2 and becoming the first non-Danish European men's singles player to reach the top of the European rankings in more than 800 weeks.

Kirsty also talks about a difficult season, finding momentum again and the different challenges of playing against men in training compared to women in tournaments.

And of course, we had to discuss the upcoming 15-point scoring system. What will shorter matches mean for badminton? Could different scoring systems make the biggest tournaments feel more special? And should tournaments have their own identity?

Plus: German Open kebabs, questionable haircuts, tournament colours and plenty of classic ShuttleSquad nonsense.

The World Championships are over — and there is a lot to talk about.

In Episode 66, Thommy is joined by Marvin Seidel and Kirsty Gilmour to look back on the World Championships and everything that happened on and off the court.

They discuss the incredible competitiveness of the tournament, tough early exits, the impact of drift and the importance of making the right tactical decisions. Kirsty also shares her experience from India and her thoughts on her own performance.

A major topic is the rise of French badminton after France claimed two World Championship titles. The squad talks about the long-term development behind this success, the French junior system and what this could mean for the future of European badminton.

Plus: the next World Championships, possible future locations, the new Super 1000 structure and what the players are already looking forward to in the next chapter of the season.

As always, thanks for listening and supporting the ShuttleSquad!
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