The full Shuttlesquad is back, although Kirsty joins the episode a little later after getting stuck on the way back from practice.

Fresh off his Japan Open title, Christo Popov takes us behind the scenes of one of the biggest wins of his career, from battling through tough matches to flying straight to China for the next Super 1000 event.

The squad also talks about life on tour, adapting to different tournament conditions, learning languages, and what players really experience behind the scenes at the biggest events.Somehow, the conversation also leads to Alex Lanier's hatred of bananas, Christo's very selective sushi order, Marvin trying baseball in Japan, and a passionate discussion about anti-doping and athlete welfare.

A mix of elite badminton insights, travel stories, and the usual Shuttlesquad banter. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen here on Spotify.

The World Championships are just around the corner, and Thom Gicquel has one clear goal: becoming World Champion.

In Episode 62 of the ShuttleSquad Podcast, Thommy, Marvin and Kirsty are joined by French mixed doubles star Thom Gicquel for an honest conversation about the biggest topics in badminton.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Thom's decision to skip the Thomas Cup and focus on the World Championships

- His ambitions for World Championship and Olympic success

- The upcoming changes to the BWF World Tour and the new 15-point scoring system

- Why badminton players need to build their own personal brands

- And finally, the singles match we all want to see: Marvin vs. Thom. Who would come out on top?vLet us know in the comments: Who wins the singles match – Marvin or Thom?

Enjoy Episode 62 of the ShuttleSquad Podcast.

In Episode 61, Thommy Fuchs, Marvin Seidel and Kirsty Gilmour answer questions from the Shuttle Squad community.

The trio discusses training in extreme summer heat, junior development, common mistakes young players make, and practical advice for recreational players looking to improve their game.

A relaxed Q&A episode packed with insights from life on the professional badminton tour.