Finals day at the Belgian International is always special. The hall once again was set up to TV standards with the finals being broadcast on national TV in Belgium as well as across Asia. Under the heat of the TV lights it was French beauty Sashina Vignes Waran who finally came of age to win her maiden senior international after defeating the unfortunate Karin Schnaase in three games.

Both Vignes Waran and Schnaase came into today’s final evenly matched and determined to succeed after coming so close in the same venue last year and both had blown away their opposition en route to today’s final. Schnaase settled quickest and took the opening set but soon in the second it was clear that Sashina had no intentions of playing second fiddle to her opponent and fought hard to take the second game 24-22.

What happened next was at best described as unfortunate for Karin Schnaase as blisters she had sustained on her hand during doubles playing for her club burst and made it impossible for her to play no matter how hard she tried.

With blood on her grip and on her shirt the German was forced to retire while trailing 17-9 in the deciding game but that takes nothing way from the fantastic play of Sashina as she finally did what she had threatened to do for the past few years, put five matches together in a row to lift a top international title.

“What can I say I am so happy. Finally to make my breakthrough and win is huge for me and so important also. It was a very difficult game and after losing the first set I just told myself to keep going and never give up. I also proved to myself than mentally I can win these games as I felt really good in that close second game. It was unfortunate for Karin but today was my day and this gives me great confidence” said Vignes Waran to Badminton Europe.

In the men’s singles it was the end of the fairytale for Dicky Palyama as he went down in three games to a deserved winner Andre Kuriawan Tedjono. The Indonesian was runner up last year but today he reversed that statistic and took the title in three games.

There was disappointment yet again in Belgium for Heather Olver as for the second year running she ended up on the losing side. Last year it was the women’s doubles this year she came up short in the mixed final.

In a match that extended to over an hour the tactical battle between both Olver/Langridge and eventual winners Ellis and White was immense. The game never exactly flowed due to many and continuous breaks but Ellis and White will not be complaining as its them that go away as champions.

The women’s doubles was always going to be a tight match and that it turned out to be. Selena Piek to had been on the losing side in a final in Belgium and today she put that right alongside partner Iris Tabeling. The Dutch girls took a tight opening set against Johanna Goliszewski and Judith Meulendijks before coming back with a run of six points to lift the title 21-18 in the second.

“It is nice to finally win here and not that we have proven we can compete and win at International Challenge level we will try our luck at Grand prix and Super Series tournaments in Europe before Christmas. It is important for us to get some games against some tough Asian opposition” said Piek to Badminton Europe.

The women’s doubles ceremony was very interesting as Goliszewski and Meulendijks (pictured) brought their little dog onto the podium with them which drew some Oooooooo’s and Ahssssss from the crowd.

The final match of the day was an exciting men’s doubles match up between Adam Cwalina/Koen Ridder and Marcus Ellis/Paul Van Riervelde. The Polish/Dutch combo took the opening game 21-18 before sealing the win 21-17 in the second which was Cwalina’s second win in consecutive years albeit with different partners.

Article by Mark Phelan (Live in Belgium)