RSL Kharkiv International 2019 has come to an end. Soon the European top players will return to Ukraine for the 2020 European Championships in Kiev.
One of the players who is aiming for Olympic qualification is Mark Caljouw (NED). Caljouw, now ranked number 33, won the tournament in men’s singles and earned the well-needed points to come closer to his dream.
- I played a good and solid tournament. I had been in an off-period lately, which is why it feels amazing to win here, stated Caljouw.
- This was definitely my goal, he added.
English surprise
Caljouw beat his opponent Ade Resky Dwicahyo (AZE) 21-15 and 21-10 and played the shortest final of the day.
The longest match of the day was the women’s singles between Xuefei Qi (FRA) and Neslihan Yigit (TUR). After almost an hour and a half (88 minutes), Qi left the court as the victor of the match and the tournament.
Marcus Ellis & Chris Langridge (ENG), the bronze medallists from the Olympics in Rio, suffered a surprising loss in the final against their compatriots Ben Lane & Sean Vendy. Lane and Vendy won 21-19 and 21-18 against the European Games champions in the final.
An overview of the finals
Men’s singles
Mark Caljouw (NED) beat Ade Resky Dwicahyo(AZE): 21-15, 21-10
Women’s singles
Xuefei Qi (FRA) beat Neslihan Yigit (TUR): 21-18, 19-21, 21-16
Men’s doubles
Ben Lane & Sean Vendy (ENG) beat Marcus Ellis & Chris Langridge (ENG): 21-19, 21-18
Mixed doubles
Pawel Smilowski & Magdalena Swierczynska (Poland) beat Fabian Delrue & Vimala Heriau (France): 22-20, 21-18
Women’s doubles
Chloe Birch & Lauren Smith (ENG) beat Rachel Honderich & Kristen Tsai (CAN): 21-14, 21-18
Find all the matches and results of the RSL Kharkiv international 2019 here