Pablo Abián, European Games badminton champion, criticizes the Spanish Federation

Pablo Abián, the newly crowned badminton champion at the European Games in Baku, has said that he is "very happy" with this success, but he regrets that the treatment he receives from the Spanish Federation (FESBA) "is not comparable to that of any other player".

Despite being the number 1 in Spain for many years and having participated in two Olympic Games, Abián has recalled that he was not called up by the national team for three years and had to pay for his own expenses to compete in tournaments to seek Olympic qualification, although he now receives some support that he does not consider to be of the same level as his achievements.

"The Federation has definitely not treated me as it should have in all areas, and it is not only the president (David Cabello), but also other people," said the player from Recreativo IES La Orden de Huelva in statements to Efe.

That is why, when asked about the ongoing dispute between the Huelva-based player Carolina Marín and her coach, Fernando Rivas, with the president of FESBA, Pablo Abián has indicated that "it is their issue and it is better for them to speak out about it".

"I do not know firsthand what has happened and I cannot give an opinion," added the player from Calatayud (Zaragoza), who is "hurt" by his situation and considers that although the gold achieved in Baku "is very important," he also hopes that it will help him have more support in his struggle to be at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Furthermore, he stressed that he hopes this success will "help" him, although he specified that "it should not be only because of this result, but because of all" the achievements throughout his career.

"I do not understand why I have been treated like this or why they have done this to me," said the player from Aragon to Efe, who would "like to know why and for the Federation to rectify or give explanations as to why" he is "in this situation".

He added that they "seem to be" trying to help him, "but not as they should," and thus, this Wednesday he travels to St. Petersburg (Russia) and the FESBA has not approved a coach to accompany him.

"They cover the travel expenses, but I requested that a coach come with me and they left it all until the last minute and they gave me a negative response when I no longer had time to do anything," he assured.

According to Abián, his goal is to "try to resolve things" and to have their support, but it depends on them, as he is "doing everything in my power, and we will see in the end if they really rectify and support me as I truly deserve," he pointed out.

At this moment, he has been called up for the national team again after three years of absence, a circumstance that he did not understand "because the results were there" and he continued "proving that he was number 1 in Spain", but they did not call him up.

"Little by little, I continue to fight and prove things. The truth is that if other players were living the situation I have been experiencing for three years, with very difficult moments, I do not know how they would define it or how they would feel," he concluded.