NEWS

Estelle Van Leeuwen will fulfil a childhood ambition when she makes her debut in next week’s 2025 YONEX All England Open.

The talented 20-year-old will feature in the next edition of the world’s oldest badminton tournament for the first time when she descends upon Utilita Arena Birmingham on 11 March.

A dedicated fan from the sidelines since she was a youngster, Van Leuuwen can’t wait to take to centre court for her maiden appearance.

“I’ve been going there since I was about eight-years-old so to actually play in it in front of all the crowds and my family and friends makes me extremely excited,” she said. “It should be a really good week.

“I’ve never played in front of an English crowd so to do it at an All England, which is the most prestigious event, is very exciting. My family doesn’t get to see me play live very often anymore, so it’ll be nice.

“Everything around the tournament is so great. The history is such a big thing and you know it’s on the calendar every single year.”

Van Leeuwen holds separate entries in the women’s doubles alongside Chloe Coney and in the mixed doubles with Callum Hemming.

Van Leeuwen and Coney have enjoyed a strong start to their partnership with finals appearances in the 2024 Scottish and Irish Opens.

Van Leeuwen added: “Chloe’s a lot more experienced than I am and we’ve been playing together for about a year.

“She’s always there every day in training pushing me to do better and we’ve always had good communication.

“Her experience will be really helpful, and we’ve really found in the last six months the way we want to play. Hopefully we can continue that going forward.

“Callum and I have been playing together for a few years, but we’ve really found our feet in the last year.

“We’ve found more consistency in our level and gone up a higher level and we’re really happy this is our first All England together. It’s really exciting.

“If you ask anyone, they want to win the All England and besides the Olympics and the World Championships, it’s the event you want to win. Winning would be an absolute dream to be honest.

“You’re always thinking about it as a child. I’ve always thought I’ve wanted to play in it so to play and to hopefully win would be absolutely incredible.

“We’re focusing on bringing our level and we’ll see what we can do.”

Van Leeuwen and Hemming have been handed a tough draw against fourth seeds Po-Hsuan Yang and Ling Fang Hu from Chinese Taipei, while she and Coney will open up against Denmark’s Amalie Cecilie Kudsk and Signe Schulz.

Four English pairings will feature at the world’s oldest badminton championships, with Van Leeuwen’s two pairings joining men’s doubles duo Ben Lane and Sean Vendy and mixed doubles pair Greg and Jenny Mairs in the West Midlands.

Van Leeuwen said: “Representing your country is always something to be proud of so to be doing it again and at this event means everything.
“I hope I can go out there, perform my best level and do everyone proud.”