Semi-finals day at the 2014 INTERSPORT European Championships turned out to as good as team Denmark could have hoped for. The European badminton powerhouse emerged victorious in every match they competed in and those Danish that did lose only happened in matches with all Danish participation. Only the reigning champions Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen had been dethroned by the local stars Vladimir Ivanov and Ivanov Sozonov.

Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl came through a tricky encounter in their women’s doubles semi-final match against Nedelcheva and Bankier to set up an all Danish women’s doubles final against Røpke & Kruse.

“It was a tricky match against Petya and Imogen as they are world class players. Once we figured them out we grew in confidence and even though the match went to three games we never really felt in trouble”

The number two Danish pair finally got one over on Piek and Muskens from The Netherlands and suffering two defeats to the world number 15 pair on the Badminton Europe circuit this season. However this was a different Roepke and Kruse on court today in Kazan, the Danes looked as focused and together for probably the first time this season and they game reflected that new found confidence.

“It is true to say that we have not played well recently or really be together as a unit but we had a good weeks training before coming to Russia and we were ready to perform to our best level this week” said Kruse after the Danish pairs win.

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While Juhl and Pedersen will compete together in the women’s doubles final they will be enemies, if only for an hour, as both qualified for the mixed doubles final alongside partners Kolding and Fischer respectively.

King Kolding Goes for Double Gold

Just as Juhl and Pedersen will battle to lift double gold tomorrow so will Danish giant Mads Pieler Kolding. The 2m 5cm tall Dane’s success alongside Juhl was followed up with a win in the men’s doubles semi-final over second seeded English pair Adcock and Ellis. The Danes defied their lower seeding to send the English home in the longest game of the day on the TV court.

After trading opening games the Danes powered home to a 21-9 win in the deciding set to the delight of Kolding.

“It has been a great day for me. Two finals alongside two great partners is more than I could have wished for.

Conrad and Kolding will face the surprise packet of the day Ivanov and Sozonov of Russia. The Russians came through in an epic battle against top seeds and reigning champions Boe and Mogensen in a match that had suspense and drama from start to finish. The Russians backed by the home crowd won a nail-biting deciding set 21-18 to send the Russians fans into ecstatic celebrations.

Click here for all #EC2014 men's doubles results

Denmark were guaranteed participation in the men’s singles final with an all Danish dual between Jan Ø. Jørgensen and Viktor Axelsen in the first match of the evening semi-final session. The manner of Jorgensen’s win even took the world number three by surprise after Axelsen failed to shine in a two game defeat.

“I was very solid today” said Jorgensen “I didn’t give Viktor any opportunity for him to force his game on me. I had memories of my defeat to him at the Swiss Open so it was important to really stay focused after winning the first game”

Jørgensen will now face England’s Rajiv Ouseph in tomorrow’s final after the Dane came through a tricky match against Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov.

Click here for all #EC2014 men's singles results

Marin on course to put Senior title alongside Junior victory

This very week three years ago Carolina Marin lifted the European Junior title. The Spanish top seeds performance today against Karin Schnaase only cements her tag as tournament favourite and looks odds on to lift the senior title just three years after that success.

The top seed will face Danish outsider Anna Thea Madsen in tomorrow’s final after the Dane ended the winning streak of Turkey’s Ozge Bayrak. Madsen not only won but won comfortably and Marin will have to be fully concentrated against the fleet of foot Dane in tomorrow’s final.

“It is hard to take in that I am in the European final tomorrow. I came into this tournament lacking confidence but I told my coach before we came to Russia that everything will be alright and luckily for me it has turned out that way. Yes Carolina will be favourite but at the same time I have nothing to lose and will fight for every point tomorrow” said a happy Dane after her semi-final victory.

Click here for all #EC2014 women's singles results

To re visit all the on demand action from today’s semi-final action go to Badminton Europe’s YouTube streaming channel by clicking HERE. Tune in tomorrow from 2pm for all the finals action all live and free on BETV.

The 2014 INTERSPORT European Championships finals:

MS: Jan Ø. Jørgensen (DEN) - Rajiv Ouseph (ENG)
WS: Carolina Marin (ESP) - Anna Thea Madsen (DEN)
MD: Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov (RUS) - Mads Kolding/Mads Conrad (DEN)
WD: Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN) - Marie Røpke/Line Kruse (DEN)
XD: Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) - Mads Kolding/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN)

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Article and Image by Mark Phelan (Live in Kazan)