Selena Piek (born 30 September 1991) is a successful Dutch badminton player who specializes in doubles.[1] She won the gold medals at the European Games in 2019 in the women's doubles, and in 2023 in the mixed doubles. She was the Badminton Europe Athletes' Commission from 2016 to 2020.[2][3]

Selena Piek
Piek at the 2007 Dutch Open
Personal information
CountryNetherlands
Born (1991-09-30) 30 September 1991 (age 32)
Blaricum, Netherlands
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight59 kg (130 lb)
HandednessRight
Women's & mixed doubles
Highest ranking7 (WD with Eefje Muskens 11 February 2016)
8 (XD with Robin Tabeling 18 July 2023)
12 (XD with Jacco Arends 26 November 2015)
Current ranking14 (XD with Robin Tabeling 23 April 2024)
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Netherlands
European Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Minsk Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2023 Kraków-Małopolska Mixed doubles
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 La Roche-sur-Yon Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Kazan Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2016 La Roche-sur-Yon Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Huelva Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Kyiv Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Madrid Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Saarbrücken Mixed doubles
European Mixed Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Copenhagen Mixed team
European Women's Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Amsterdam Women's team
European Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Milan Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2007 Völklingen Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2009 Milan Women's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2009 Milan Mixed team
BWF profile

Since joining the national team when she was 15, Piek has shown her talent in playing doubles. She won gold in the mixed doubles and silver medal in the girls' doubles at the 2009 European Junior Championships. She reached a career high of world number 7 in the women's doubles with Eefje Muskens and number 8 in the mixed doubles with Robin Tabeling. She participated in two events, mixed and women's doubles at two Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and 2020 in Tokyo, where she reached the quarter-finals in 2016 with Muskens and in 2020 with Cheryl Seinen.

Career edit

Piek started playing badminton at a young age and left her home in Weesp to join the Dutch National junior badminton squad at Papendal when she was 15 years old. Ever since then she lived close by Papendal in the Dutch city of Arnhem. Her early international glory was together first with partner Iris Tabeling, then with partner Eefje Muskens in the women's doubles event and first also with partner Jacco Arends in the mixed doubles event.

Her last women's doubles partner was Cheryl Seinen and currently her only focus internationally is in the mixed doubles event with Robin Tabeling. She won her first National doubles title in 2012 with Iris Tabeling. Thereafter, she won the 2014, 2015 and 2016 editions of Dutch National Badminton Championships with Eefje Muskens.[4] She won another three National doubles events with partner Cheryl Seinen in 2018, 2019 and 2020. She has also won the mixed doubles National championships title seven times since 2012 with four different partners (2012 with Dave Khodabux, 2013 with Ruud Bosch, 2014-2016 with Jacco Arends, 2020 and 2023 with Robin Tabeling).

Piek was the gold medalist at the 2019 European Games in the women's doubles event with Cheryl Seinen.[5]

She reached the Olympics quarter finals twice; at the Rio Olympics 2016 with Eefje Muskens and the Tokyo Olympics 2020 with Cheryl Seinen. In the Dutch Eredivisie league, she is playing for Duinwijck in Haarlem, while in Denmark in the Elite league her club is Højbjerg Badminton Klub.

 
Jacco Arends and Selena Piek in action

2023: Second European Games gold edit

Piek and her partner, Tabeling, started the 2023 season on the Asian tour with unsatisfactory results. They had to accept defeat in the early rounds at the Malaysia and India Opens as well as at the Indonesia Masters in January. Their performance then improved in March, reaching the quarter-finals at the All England Open and the semi-finals at the Swiss Open. In July, Piek won her second gold medal at the European Games by winning the mixed doubles title with Tabeling, where she previously in 2019 won the women's doubles with Cheryl Seinen.[6] In the remaining tournaments in 2023, Piek and Tabeling did not win any BWF World Tour, with their best were reaching the quarter-finals at the Hylo Open.

2024: 7th medals in the European Championships edit

In the first semester of 2024, Piek and her partner, Robin Tabeling has not won any single title. The best results that they achieved were a semi-finalists in the German, All England, and Swiss Opens.[7][8] She then captured her seventh medal in the European Championships by winning the mixed doubles bronze, after losing to 1st seeded Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje in the semi-finals.[9]

Achievements edit

European Games edit

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2019 Falcon Club,
Minsk, Belarus
  Cheryl Seinen   Chloe Birch
  Lauren Smith
14–21, 21–13, 21–15   Gold

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2023 Arena Jaskółka,
Tarnów, Poland
  Robin Tabeling   Thom Gicquel
  Delphine Delrue
21–10, 13–21, 21–13   Gold

European Championships edit

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2014 Gymnastics Center,
Kazan, Russia
  Eefje Muskens   Line Damkjær Kruse
  Marie Røpke
23–25, 11–21   Bronze
2016 Vendéspace,
La Roche-sur-Yon, France
  Eefje Muskens   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl
18–21, 17–21   Silver
2018 Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín,
Huelva, Spain
  Cheryl Seinen   Émilie Lefel
  Anne Tran
21–17, 18–21, 19–21   Bronze
2021 Palace of Sports,
Kyiv, Ukraine
  Cheryl Seinen   Chloe Birch
  Lauren Smith
18–21 , 16–21   Bronze

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2016 Vendéspace,
La Roche-sur-Yon, France
  Jacco Arends   Joachim Fischer Nielsen
  Christinna Pedersen
17–21, 8–21   Bronze
2022 Polideportivo Municipal Gallur,
Madrid, Spain
  Robin Tabeling   Thom Gicquel
  Delphine Delrue
19–21, 15–21   Bronze
2024 Saarlandhalle,
Saarbrücken, Germany
  Robin Tabeling   Mathias Christiansen
  Alexandra Bøje
23–25, 23–21, 18–21   Bronze

European Junior Championships edit

Girls' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2009 Federal Technical Centre - Palabadminton,
Milan, Italy
  Iris Tabeling   Anastasia Chervyakova
  Romina Gabdullina
13-21, 17-21   Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2009 Federal Technical Centre - Palabadminton,
Milan, Italy
  Jacco Arends   Jonas Geigenberger
  Fabienne Deprez
21–16, 20–22, 21–19   Gold

BWF World Tour (1 title, 3 runners-up) edit

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[10] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[11]

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result
2018 Dutch Open Super 100   Cheryl Seinen   Gabriela Stoeva
  Stefani Stoeva
17–21, 18–21   Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result
2018 Scottish Open Super 100   Jacco Arends   Marcus Ellis
  Lauren Smith
6–13 retired   Runner-up
2019 Dutch Open Super 100   Robin Tabeling   Chris Adcock
  Gabby Adcock
21–17, 21–13   Winner
2022 French Open Super 750   Robin Tabeling   Zheng Siwei
  Huang Yaqiong
16–21, 21–14, 20–22   Runner-up

BWF Grand Prix (6 titles, 6 runners-up) edit

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2012 Dutch Open   Iris Tabeling   Samantha Barning
  Eefje Muskens
19–21, 21–16, 22–20   Winner
2013 Canada Open   Eefje Muskens   Huang Yaqiong
  Yu Xiaohan
21–13, 11–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2013 Bitburger Open   Eefje Muskens   Ng Hui Ern
  Ng Hui Lin
22–20, 21–15   Winner
2013 Scottish Open   Eefje Muskens   Ng Hui Ern
  Ng Hui Lin
25–23, 15–21, 21–16   Winner
2014 Dutch Open   Eefje Muskens   Shendy Puspa Irawati
  Vita Marissa
11–8, 4–11, 11–9, 11–10   Winner
2015 Canada Open   Eefje Muskens   Jwala Gutta
  Ashwini Ponnappa
19–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2015 Dutch Open   Eefje Muskens   Gabriela Stoeva
  Stefani Stoeva
22–24, 15–21   Runner-up
2015 Brasil Open   Eefje Muskens   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan
17–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2016 Syed Modi International   Eefje Muskens   Jung Kyung-eun
  Shin Seung-chan
15–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2017 Scottish Open   Cheryl Seinen   Ekaterina Bolotova
  Alina Davletova
15–21, 21–15, 21–11   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2017 Dutch Open   Jacco Arends   Marcus Ellis
  Lauren Smith
17–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2017 Scottish Open   Jacco Arends   Mikkel Mikkelsen
  Mai Surrow
21–10, 21–10   Winner
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (28 titles, 8 runners-up) edit

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2010 Slovak Open   Iris Tabeling   Marija Ulitina
  Natalya Voytsekh
21–10, 21–18   Winner
2010 Czech International   Iris Tabeling   Maria Helsbøl
  Anne Skelbæk
22–20, 15–21, 21–7   Winner
2010 Italian International   Iris Tabeling   Malgorzata Kurdelska
  Natalia Pocztowiak
21–15, 21–9   Winner
2011 Estonian International   Iris Tabeling   Marija Ulitina
  Natalya Voytsekh
21–12, 21–16   Winner
2011 Slovak Open   Iris Tabeling   Özge Bayrak
  Neslihan Yiğit
21–7, 21–9   Winner
2012 Estonian International   Iris Tabeling   Samantha Barning
  Ilse Vaessen
21–15, 13–21, 21–10   Winner
2012 Dutch International   Iris Tabeling   Lotte Jonathans
  Paulien van Dooremalen
21–17, 19–21, 21–23   Runner-up
2012 Belgian International   Iris Tabeling   Johanna Goliszewski
  Judith Meulendijks
24–22, 21–18   Winner
2012 Norwegian International   Iris Tabeling   Samantha Barning
  Eefje Muskens
20–22, 16–21   Runner-up
2013 Swedish Masters   Iris Tabeling   Emelie Lennartsson
  Emma Wengberg
21–15, 21–16   Winner
2013 Irish Open   Eefje Muskens   Ng Hui Ern
  Ng Hui Lin
21–17, 21–10   Winner
2013 Italian International   Eefje Muskens   He Tian Tang
  Renuga Veeran
21–10, 21–8   Winner
2014 Swedish Masters   Eefje Muskens   Line Damkjær Kruse
  Marie Røpke
21–19, 21–11   Winner
2014 Belgian International   Eefje Muskens   Samantha Barning
  Iris Tabeling
11–9, 9–11, 11–8, 10–11, 11–7   Winner
2017 Belgian International   Cheryl Seinen   Debora Jille
  Imke van der Aar
21–14, 21–16   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2010 Portugal International   Jacco Arends   Zvonimir Đurkinjak
  Staša Poznanović
14–21, 21–18, 11–21   Runner-up
2010 Slovak Open   Jacco Arends   Aleksei Konakh
  Alesia Zaitsava
21–15, 21–14   Winner
2010 Hungarian International   Jacco Arends   Peter Käsbauer
  Johanna Goliszewski
21–15, 21–14   Winner
2011 Estonian International   Jacco Arends   Tim Dettmann
  Ilse Vaessen
21–12, 21–14   Winner
2011 Slovak Open   Dave Khodabux   Wojciech Szkudlarczyk
  Agnieszka Wojtkowska
21–13, 21–18   Winner
2011 Belgian International   Jorrit de Ruiter   Chayut Triyachart
  Yao Lei
25–23, 16–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2011 Irish Open   Dave Khodabux   Marcus Ellis
  Heather Olver
19–21, 17–21   Runner-up
2012 Estonian International   Dave Khodabux   Jorrit de Ruiter
  Samantha Barning
21–7, 21–12   Winner
2012 Scottish International   Ruud Bosch   Marcus Ellis
  Gabrielle White
16–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2013 Belgian International   Jacco Arends   Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
  Lena Grebak
18–21, 21–9, 15–21   Runner-up
2013 Irish Open   Jacco Arends   Robert Blair
  Imogen Bankier
9–21, 21–19, 21–13   Winner
2013 Italian International   Jacco Arends   Zvonimir Đurkinjak
  Eva Lee
21–23, 18–21   Winner
2014 Belgian International   Jacco Arends   Jelle Maas
  Iris Tabeling
11–5, 11–10, 11–7   Winner
2015 Swedish Masters   Jacco Arends   Vitalij Durkin
  Nina Vislova
21–17, 17–21, 21–14   Winner
2017 Belgian International   Jacco Arends   Scott Evans
  Amanda Högström
21–17, 21–9   Winner
2018 Belgian International   Jacco Arends   Adam Hall
  Julie MacPherson
21–11, 21–13   Winner
2019 Austrian Open   Robin Tabeling   Danny Bawa Chrisnanta
  Tan Wei Han
19–21, 21–16, 21–12   Winner
2019 Brazil International   Robin Tabeling   Jacco Arends
  Cheryl Seinen
16–21, 23–21, 21–17   Winner
2021 Dutch Open   Robin Tabeling   Mikkel Mikkelsen
  Rikke Søby Hansen
18–21, 21–13, 15–21   Runner-up
2021 Irish Open   Robin Tabeling   Mikkel Mikkelsen
  Rikke Søby Hansen
21–18, 21–15   Winner
2022 Dutch Open   Robin Tabeling   Callum Hemming
  Jessica Pugh
21–17, 21–12   Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament
  BWF Future Series tournament

References edit

  1. ^ "Selena Piek". Badminton Europe Player Profile. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ Agerbak, Brian (19 February 2016). "BEC Athletes election decided". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Badminton Europe Commission Chair". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Fantastic Four pick up National Titles : Surrey Smashers Badminton". surreysmashers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. ^ Bech, Rasmus (29 June 2019). "Netherlands wins first ever European Games gold". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  6. ^ "EK-goud badmintonners Piek en Tabeling in gemengd dubbel: 'Zo onwijs trots'" (in Dutch). NOS. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Memorabele prestatie op de 125e Yonex All England door Selena Piek en Robin Tabeling!" (in Dutch). Badminton Nederland. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Weespse Selena Piek kan zich opmaken voor derde deelname Olympische Spelen" (in Dutch). Gooieneemlander. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Badmintonduo Tabeling/Piek grijpt naast finaleplaats EK" (in Dutch). Welingelichte Kringen. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  10. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  11. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

External links edit