There can be few badminton stories as striking as that of the Popov brothers Toma Junior and Christo, who, in a world of increasing specialisation, have actually taken the opposite route and excelled. As elite players accomplished in singles and doubles – they secured a doubles qualification place for Paris 2024  and were in a dead heat for the singles spot, which went to Toma Junior – they have consistently challenged the notion of players limiting their options to either singles or doubles.

But while the brothers are often in the limelight, the vision that conceived all this was their father’s – Toma Popov – a former Bulgarian player and coach who relocated to France 20 years ago and dreamed this future for his sons.

In that sense, it is astonishing that Toma Popov’s plans have come to pass. Not every ambitious parent can fructify his dream through his children, however talented they may be, but Toma Popov – through determination and vision and guiding his sons – is now in the privileged position of being able to watch them play the Olympics on home soil.

When did the dream begin?

“I have been dreaming this for them since they were born,” said Toma Popov, earlier this year, surveying the hall where the Olympics would be played.

“When I saw that the Olympic Games would be in Paris, this was our objective… it was hard work for the last 10 years.  You must win Under-15, win U-17, U-19, after that the senior level, European Championships… I know it’s difficult to plan for years later, but every little bit, step by step, we did a good job.”

Every morning is the same routine.

“The first thing is to drink coffee. After that I speak with the boys; we have the plan for the day. Sometimes we practice three times a day, sometimes two, after the practice we go to the restaurant to eat together. We stay together all the time, so it’s good for us. We speak about the next day, about the next competition.”

It is rare that a single coach can push his trainees to the top of the pile in two different disciplines in a sport as complex as badminton. The successful models are systems, not individuals. Toma Popov has managed to defy the norm.

“I have a lot of plans, a lot of themes, for each player… it’s very hard work. But we are a very good team together. My method might be a little different, but every coach might have a few different things. I look at the big coaches of China, Malaysia, Denmark, Indonesia, we speak a bit… me with the boys are a good team, and the work is good.”

It is possible that he is living his ambitions through his sons. As a Bulgarian player who played singles and doubles, Popov had modest success in his own career before retiring in 2002. It was in France that he spotted his opportunity.

“That was another life, in Bulgaria, I was national coach,” he says. “But when I came to France and started to work here, I thought it’s possible to be here, and I shifted in 2003. I made the decision for me and my family, because I want to work in this sport, and that was difficult in Bulgaria. I tried for some months to see if I can work in France and stay with my family, and then we made the decision to come here.”

Since his own playing days, the sport has changed almost unrecognisably. Through all these years, once thing, he says, hasn’t changed. And that’s what he has tried to inculcate in his sons – the importance of mental strength.

“I played high level 20 years ago. It was a different system, it wasn’t the same speed, not the same hall, not the same practice, not the same vision, everything has changed. I had to keep updating my methods. However, the mentality (aspect) has not changed, that’s the same.”

The dream has taken flight, but it won’t end in Paris. Toma Popov didn’t come this far to merely watch Toma Junior and Christo participate. He knows a medal would be a difficult proposition in Paris, and so the goal is actually gold in Los Angeles 2028.

“To medal at 2028 is our project. To win. We will work towards that — now and the next eight years.”