It was nearly two decades ago that Pablo Abian made his BWF World Championships debut.
That was in 2006 on his home turf in Madrid. Now 40, Abian continues to be a fixture at the premier event – Paris 2025 saw him competing in his 14th edition of the World Championships.
Spain’s highest ranked men’s singles player at No.159, Abian hasn’t had a particularly bright year – crashing out of the early rounds of every tournament he’s played. At the World Championships he ran into England’s Ethan Rose in the first round and stretched it to three games, eventually falling 21-12 in the third. Yet he stayed combative until the end, fighting for every point, contesting line calls, and looking annoyed with himself at every lost point.

“I’m happy to be in my 14th World Championships and to be the one with the most appearances in men’s singles,” said Abian. “On the other hand, I’m not happy because I lost a close match, three games and over an hour of play, but I fought hard, and on that side, I’m satisfied because I gave everything I had on the court. I’m ready to keep training and I’m trying to continue achieving my next goals.”
What has kept him going at an age when former elite players have turned to coaching or alternate careers?
“For now, I still have that motivation, which is to keep training day after day, to keep improving, and to try to be competitive. The moment I realise I don’t have that, well, that will be the time to stop, and I’ll be the first to make that decision. But for now, I still have that excitement and that desire, and I think that’s the most important thing.
Abian says it’s his daily discipline that has helped him stay the distance.
“Over the years, it’s true that certain things change. You have to adapt to personal situations and the situations you encounter with your body and your surroundings, but I’ve more or less kept the same routines, and I think that’s important.”
The fuel hasn’t yet run out. Abian is keen to compete next year too – if he can make the cut.
“First, I have to qualify. The goal is to try — and why not?”