Estelle Van Leeuwen will fulfil a childhood ambition when she makes her debut in subsequent week’s 2025 YONEX All England Open.
The proficient 20-year-old will function within the subsequent version of the world’s oldest badminton event for the primary time when she descends upon Utilita Enviornment Birmingham on 11 March.
A devoted fan from the sidelines since she was a teen, Van Leuuwen can’t wait to take to centre courtroom for her maiden look.
“I’ve been going there since I used to be about eight-years-old so to truly play in it in entrance of all of the crowds and my household and associates makes me extraordinarily excited,” she stated. “It needs to be a very good week.
“I’ve by no means performed in entrance of an English crowd so to do it at an All England, which is essentially the most prestigious occasion, may be very thrilling. My household doesn’t get to see me play dwell fairly often anymore, so it’ll be good.
“All the things across the event is so nice. The historical past is such a giant factor and you realize it’s on the calendar each single 12 months.”
Van Leeuwen holds separate entries within the ladies’s doubles alongside Chloe Coney and within the blended doubles with Callum Hemming.
Van Leeuwen and Coney have loved a powerful begin to their partnership with finals appearances within the 2024 Scottish and Irish Opens.
Van Leeuwen added: “Chloe’s much more skilled than I’m and we’ve been enjoying collectively for a few 12 months.
“She’s at all times there every single day in coaching pushing me to do higher and we’ve at all times had good communication.
“Her expertise can be actually useful, and we’ve actually discovered within the final six months the best way we need to play. Hopefully we will proceed that going ahead.
“Callum and I’ve been enjoying collectively for a number of years, however we’ve actually discovered our toes within the final 12 months.
“We’ve discovered extra consistency in our degree and gone up the next degree and we’re actually glad that is our first All England collectively. It’s actually thrilling.
“When you ask anybody, they need to win the All England and apart from the Olympics and the World Championships, it’s the occasion you need to win. Successful can be an absolute dream to be trustworthy.
“You’re at all times serious about it as a toddler. I’ve at all times thought I’ve needed to play in it so to play and to hopefully win can be completely unbelievable.
“We’re specializing in bringing our degree and we’ll see what we will do.”
Van Leeuwen and Hemming have been handed a tricky draw towards fourth seeds Po-Hsuan Yang and Ling Fang Hu from Chinese language Taipei, whereas she and Coney will open up towards Denmark’s Amalie Cecilie Kudsk and Signe Schulz.
4 English pairings will function on the world’s oldest badminton championships, with Van Leeuwen’s two pairings becoming a member of males’s doubles duo Ben Lane and Sean Vendy and blended doubles pair Greg and Jenny Mairs within the West Midlands.
Van Leeuwen stated: “Representing your nation is at all times one thing to be pleased with so to be doing it once more and at this occasion means the whole lot.
“I hope I can go on the market, carry out my finest degree and do everybody proud.”
