The finals day of the XI Italian International was not disappointing at all. The Ostia PalaFijlkam hosted the finals of the Badminton Europe Challenge tournament and saw a total Russian dominance in the doubles. While Spain's Pablo Abian and Yao Jie from
the Netherlands took the singles titles of the 15.000 Dollars event.
In the men’s singles, the Spanish player Pablo Abian, 22nd of the current world ranking and finalist of last year's edition, triumphed over the Finnish player Ville Lang in a heartbreaking match. Lang won the first set by 21-13, while the Spanish athlete
managed to impose his play and won the second and third game 21-14, 21-13 to celebrate his first ever Italian title.
In the women’s singles, Dutch Jie Yao (20th in the world ranking) conquered the gold medal against Petya Nedelcheva of Bulgaria (19th in the world
ranking), in a match which was difficult to predict - considering the equal level of the two Europan top athletes and their position in the world rankings. But today, Yao was in an excellent shape and clearly won the match in two straight games (21-11, 21-17).
Great emotions were shown in the doubles, where Russia was dominanting all three categories. In fact, in an all-Russia men’s Final the pair Ivanov/Sozonov respected the predictions and beat the fellow countrymen Durkin/Nikolaenko quite comfortable (21-16, 21-15).
In the women’s doubles, the Russian pair of Sorokina/Vislova outclassed the German opponents Marinello/Michels (21-14, 21-9). The German never got into the match.
The two Russian athletes also participated in the other Russian derby.In the mixed doubles, the pair Sorokina/Nikolaenko triumphed in the third game over Vislova/Durkin in a point-by-point match which none of them gave up until the end (13-21, 21-18, 21-17).
The Finals will be recorded and broadcasted by RAI Sport 1 on Tuesday, December 23 at 1.00 p.m.
The event was sponsored by Italian Olympic Commitee, the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Navy), the Region of Lazio, the Province of Rome, the City of Rome and the Municipio XIII of Rome.
The finals results:
MS: Pablo Abian (ESP) - Ville Lang (FIN) 13:21 21:14 21:13
WS: YAO Jie (NED) - Petya Nedelcheva (BUL) 21:11 1:17
MD: Ivanov/Sozonov (RUS) – Durkin/Nikolaenko (RUS) 21:16 21:15
WD: Sorokina/Vislova (RUS) – Marinello/Michels (GER) 21:14 21:9
MX: Nikolaenko/Sorokina (RUS) – Durkin/Vislova (RUS) 13:21 21:18 21:17
Click here for the draws of the 2011 Italian International
Press relase and photos by Italian Badminton Federation