Yasmine Hamza was happy about winning her next medal in Maracay.

Olympics very close: South Tyrol's badminton talent on track

Yasmine Hamza is getting closer and closer to her goal of becoming the first South Tyrolean badminton player to qualify for the Olympic Games.

10 October 2023

From: pm

At the Venezuela International, the 20-year-old from Bolzano only had to admit defeat in the final as a scheduled player. In the world rankings, Hamza moved up to 101st place, in the “Race to Paris” she gained 11 places and is now in 78th position.

Yasmine Hamza has taken the next step towards Olympic qualification. In Maracay, she not only won her 19th medal in a world ranking tournament at a tournament in the “International Series” category (extending the South Tyrol record), but also beat direct competitors for one of the expected 38 Olympic starting places. Above all, the Mexican Maricela Garcia Contreras. After a timid start, Hamza won against the world number 84 with 16:21, 21:7, 21:12. She had previously defeated another top 92 player, Sabrina Solms (100). It was only in the final that Hamza had to admit defeat to Peruvian Ines Castillo Salazar (BWF No. 70) from Peru 12:21, 18:21.

This is how Olympic qualification works

“Yasmine has once again demonstrated her progress in an important tournament,” says coach Csaba Hamza. “Now she still has to work on being able to give her best performance in a final.” In the 13th final of her career, it was Yasmine Hamza’s ninth defeat. Thanks to her participation in the final in Venezuela, she has moved up to 101st place in the world rankings and to 78th place in the “Race to Paris”. As of today, she only has to overtake one athlete for direct Olympic qualification. This is currently the Mexican Garcia Contreras, who she defeated last week. This week Hamza is in action at the Peru International Series in Lima.

Another South Tyrolean took part in Venezuela. Judith Mair (ASV Mals) was eliminated in the round of 16. At the Bulgarian International (Futures Series), which took place at the same time, David Salutt (SSV Bozen) won the silver medal in doubles with partner Matteo Massetti.