'We don't share girlfriends!': Inside the lives of badminton's sibling partnerships
At the BWF World Championships in Delhi, sibling partnerships offer more than a shared surname. Scotland’s identical Grimley twins have spent two decades learning each other’s game, while France’s Popov brothers see doubles as an escape from the pressures of singles. Czech siblings Ondrej and Jiri Kral, meanwhile, embrace the comfort, and occasional friction, of sharing life and badminton.
The Grimley twins, Christopher and Matthew, are identical badminton players who have found success together in doubles. Standing at 177 cm and 176 cm respectively, the 26-year-olds have a striking resemblance, often confusing umpires. Hailing from Scotland, the siblings grew up playing both football and badminton before dedicating themselves to the latter. They joined junior national teams at 10 and the senior team upon graduating from school.
The twins have a playful history of misusing their similarities. During a junior match, Matthew jokingly mentioned to Christopher about a nosebleed to test if their opponents would notice. The duo also engaged in swapping seats at school, keeping their teachers in the dark. However, they firmly maintain their personal boundaries, asserting that they do not share girlfriends.
The Grimley twins made an impressive start at the Delhi World Championships, defeating Kevin Lee and Ty Alexander Lindeman 21-17, 19-21, 21-10. They have been doubles partners since the age of six and rely on each other for motivation and strategic insights. Christopher believes that being together on the court allows them to anticipate each other's thoughts and movements, giving them an edge. Matthew echoes this sentiment, adding that they can easily lift each other's spirits during tough times.
Doubles provides a much-needed respite from the intense pressure of singles competitions, according to the French player Christo Popov, who plays doubles with his brother Toma Jr. Popov. He finds joy in the camaraderie and teamwork required in doubles, which can be lacking in the solitary world of singles. Both brothers acknowledge the benefits of playing doubles, especially in tournaments where the mental strain can be overwhelming.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
