In the mixed doubles, we have one Dutch trump. Dave Khodabux and Samantha Barning Barning will play their first World Championships in Paris. This because the technical staff of Badminton The Netherlands decided a few months ago to withdraw the mixed doubles of Ruud Bosch and Paulien van Dooremalen and of Lotte Jonathans and myself from international events, so Dave and Samantha must uphold the Dutch honor.
They have a good draw in the first round. They play against the unseeded Bulgarian couple Stilian Makarski and Diana Dimova. The Bulgarians are currently 36th in the world ranking while Dave and Samantha take the 39th spot. Only once before the two couples were playing against each other which was last year at the Victor Dutch International. Dave and Samantha then won the match in three games. In this coming match I believe our countrymen have the best chances, but it is not going to be easy. The winner of this encounter most probably plays in the second round against the 15th seeded English combination of Robertson and Wallwork.