Circuit

First senior title for Finland's Kalle Koljonen
Date: 11/1/2015 1:55 PM
Published by : Mark Phelan
Finland’s Kalle Koljonen (pictured) took the men’s singles honours in Budapest yesterday to win his maiden senior international. The young Finn, who was one of the understated members of Finland’s team that won bronze at the European team championships in Basel 2014, has been knocking on the winner’s door this past twelve months and finally put five tournament victories together to bag that illusive first senior win. 

Koljonen’s victory was made all the more sweet given that fact that he beat four Danes en route to the title and in today’s final came back from a first set loss to beat Rasmus Messerschmidt to show a growing maturity in a match that he probably would have lost twelve months ago. Finnish men’s singles continues to grow from strength to strength and this win from Koljonen should do something to prove there are plenty of young players coming through to back up the eye catching performances of their number 1 Ville Lang. 

"This win means a lot to me and its a big boost for my confidence for next tournaments ahead of me. I didnt have the easiest draw to the final since I had 4 danish players out of 5 matches to beat but I was consistent and didn't melt down in the end which would have happened a year ago. Finally the physical side and menthal side are starting to click together." said Koljonen after his victory. 

Campbell & MacHugh back on top 

It has been a lean few months on the circuit for Scotland’s finest Patrick MacHugh and Martin Campbell. Their win in Iceland back in January seems like a lifetime ago and thought the same level tournament the win Yesterday in Hungary will taste just that bit sweeter given the marked increase in standard. 

Campbell & MacHugh travelled to Budapest as favourites for the men’s doubles title but with some quality pairs in the draw the job was always going to be a difficult one. The manner of their semi-final winner over Adam Hall & Christopher Coles was a clear indication of their form and the Scots lifted the title with a three game win over Soren Gravholt and Nikolaj Overgaard in the final. 

England lifted the mixed doubles title thanks to Christopher Coles and Victoria Williams. Coles, who has had his fair share of different partners this past year, got out of the blocks quickly alongside Williams by beating two Danish pairs on their way to the semi-final.

The stars seemed to be aligned for the English pair as they took down top seeds Myhren and Wengberg of Sweden in the semi-final before coming through the final in three games against yet another Danish pair Buhl & Nielsen in what was the English pairs third three set match of the tournament. 



Elsewhere Malaysia took the women’s doubles with Yee See CHEAH and Kah Mun CHIN beating Danish young guns Alexandra & Gabriella Boje in the final. The women’s singles title went to Aprilla Yuswandairi who beat Chloe Birch in the final after taking down home favourite Laura Sarosi in the quarter final earlier in the week. 

For all results from the 2015 Yonex Hungarian International click HERE. 

Article and head image by Mark Phelan for Badminton Europe, podium photo by Ibolya Berenyi.
©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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