ShuttleSquad - Badminton Podcast

A new world no. 1 joins the squad - and he's been there from the start! 🌍🏸For episode 70, Thommy catches up with Christo Popov just days after his historic French Open victory. Winning on home soil not only earned him another Super 750 title but also propelled him to the top of the men's singles world rankings.But here's the interesting part: Christo says winning the French Open actually means more to him than becoming world No. 1. He shares the emotions behind his historic triumph, the pressure of playing at home and why staying focused on one match at a time is more important than chasing rankings.The conversation also gets into some bigger questions about the sport: Is the two-player-per-country rule at the World Tour Finals fair? Should European and Asian continental championships carry more balanced ranking points? And could badminton benefit from a ranking-based system that adjusts the value of continental championships every year?From his brother Toma's World Tour Finals situation to the growing strength of European men's singles, Christo gives his perspective on the sport's biggest questions.Plus, insights into life on tour, recovery and the crazy hotel prices during French Open week.70 episodes of Shuttle Squad – and what better way to celebrate than with the new world No. 1?🎧 Listen now!#shuttlesquad #badmintonpodcast

Four European champions. One podcast. And plenty to talk about!

Shuttle Squad is back with the full squad as Thommy Fox, Kirsty Gilmour, Christo Popov and Marvin Seidel catch up during the French Open week for episode 69 of the ShuttleSquad badminton podcast.

From on-court mind games to the future of badminton scoring, this episode goes beyond the results and gets into what it's really like to compete at the highest level.

In this episode:

The 25-second shot clock: Is it improving the game, putting unnecessary pressure on players, or even affecting the quality of rallies? The players share their experiences and debate a possible solution.

Christo Popov vs. Anders Antonsen: Christo looks back at their Denmark Open encounter, the infamous Apple Watch moment, and what really frustrated him during the match.

Life as a badminton dad: Marvin talks about becoming a father, finding perspective on court, and why a little extra confidence might be coming his way.

Coaching from a different perspective: Kirsty and Christo discuss what it's like to have different coaches in the chair, the value of fresh input, and why understanding a player's game matters.

Life on tour: Recent wins, tough losses, the return of confidence and the realities of competing week after week.

Join the discussion! Let us know in the comments what you think about this episode and the topics discussed!

#shuttlesquad #badminton #badmintonpodcast #episode69

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!
Make sure to like, comment and subscribe if you haven't already.

#ShuttleSquad #BadmintonPodcast #Badminton #WorldChampionships #KirstyGilmour #MarvinSeidel

The World Championships are just around the corner — and Christo Popov has some serious battles ahead.In Episode 65, Christo and Thommy break down Christo’s tough draws in both men’s singles and men’s doubles at the upcoming World Championships in New Delhi, India. Christo also takes us behind the scenes of his intense final weeks of preparation, his schedule in the days leading up to the tournament and what it takes to be ready for the biggest stage of the year.They also look at Christo’s expectations heading into the World Championships and discuss what has changed compared to the past few years.The road to Delhi is almost complete. Now it’s time for the biggest stage.Follow the ShuttleSquad throughout the World Championships and make sure to like, comment and subscribe if you haven’t already.#ShuttleSquad #BadmintonPodcast #WorldChampionships #Badminton #ChristoPopov

In this episode Kirsty and Thommy break down the women's singles and women's doubles draw of the upcoming badminton world championships in New Delhi, India.

Kirsty is in the middle of her preparations and is eager to perform on the biggest stage of world badminton.

The European champion shares some training insights, reacts to her own (very tough) draw and also names her favorites to win, players to watch and interesting match ups.

As always, drop a like, leave a comment and subscribe to our channels, if you haven't done it yet. And also make sure to come back for part 2 with Marvin and Christo for men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles.

Thanks for your support!

#shutttlesquad #badmintonpodcast

The full Shuttlesquad is back, although Kirsty joins the episode a little later after getting stuck on the way back from practice.

Fresh off his Japan Open title, Christo Popov takes us behind the scenes of one of the biggest wins of his career, from battling through tough matches to flying straight to China for the next Super 1000 event.

The squad also talks about life on tour, adapting to different tournament conditions, learning languages, and what players really experience behind the scenes at the biggest events.Somehow, the conversation also leads to Alex Lanier's hatred of bananas, Christo's very selective sushi order, Marvin trying baseball in Japan, and a passionate discussion about anti-doping and athlete welfare.

A mix of elite badminton insights, travel stories, and the usual Shuttlesquad banter. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen here on Spotify.

The World Championships are just around the corner, and Thom Gicquel has one clear goal: becoming World Champion.

In Episode 62 of the ShuttleSquad Podcast, Thommy, Marvin and Kirsty are joined by French mixed doubles star Thom Gicquel for an honest conversation about the biggest topics in badminton.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Thom's decision to skip the Thomas Cup and focus on the World Championships

- His ambitions for World Championship and Olympic success

- The upcoming changes to the BWF World Tour and the new 15-point scoring system

- Why badminton players need to build their own personal brands

- And finally, the singles match we all want to see: Marvin vs. Thom. Who would come out on top?vLet us know in the comments: Who wins the singles match – Marvin or Thom?

Enjoy Episode 62 of the ShuttleSquad Podcast.

In Episode 61, Thommy Fuchs, Marvin Seidel and Kirsty Gilmour answer questions from the Shuttle Squad community.

The trio discusses training in extreme summer heat, junior development, common mistakes young players make, and practical advice for recreational players looking to improve their game.

A relaxed Q&A episode packed with insights from life on the professional badminton tour.