Events

Never doubt a Dane!
Date: 2/19/2012 8:48 PM
Published by : Manuel Røsler
A valuable lesson was learned today at the semi final stages of the European Team Championships in Amsterdam. The lesson was not dished out to any of the players on court but more so to all the people watching from the stands and sidelines. That message was quiet simple and clear... Never doubt the strength of any Danish team in a European Championship.

Let’s face it, there have been many who have made comment ahead of these championships, me included, that if there was a year that the Danes look beatable in the women’s event this was maybe the year. When Tine Baun was beaten only the day before yesterday by Carolina Marin even more people jumped on the doubters band wagon.

The Danish girls ended any momentum for that argument gaining traction as they blew a very strong Russian team off the court today in quick fire fashion by a score of 3-0.

Tine Baun was never troubled by Anastasia Prokopenko at first singles and then the power of Pedersen and Juhl was by far in advance of anything that Young gun Anastasia Chervaykova and her vastly experienced partner Nina Vislova could throw at them. At second singles Karina Jørgensen delivered the final point needed with a win in three sets over the gutsy Tatyana Bibik leaving everyone in no doubt that the Danes are still very much top of the pile.

Meeting them in tomorrow’s final will be Germany after they defeated the Dutch by a score line of 3-1. The Germans proved their strength in depth as even after Juliane Schenk lost her opening singles the rest of the German machine rolled in behind to send the Dutch girls packing. It was rather fitting that in the end it was Schenk who delivered the winning point along with partner Johanna Goliszewski in the second women’s doubles.

“This was a really great team performance today and we knew that after Juliane’s singles loss we had to make a huge effort to win our doubles. After some early nerves we felt very comfortable on court and our doubles victory was especially nice” said Sandra Marinello and Birgit Michels to Badminton Europe.

As the women’s final is an all German Danish affair so is the men’s. Denmark go into tomorrow’s final as red as red can be hot favourites after a 3-0 win over England in the semi final today. The German’s, like their female counterparts, needed an extra game to send the Russians home and will openly admit that they will all have to play even one or two notches better to even trouble the Danes tomorrow. This is especially worrying for the Fuchs/Roth combination as the pair just appear to be misfiring at second doubles this week.

“I was a really great feeling to secure the winning point for Germany in this semi final. We felt extremely relaxed on the court today and the game plan worked.” Said Ingo Kindervater to Badminton Europe.

The funniest moment of the day came in the German men’s post winning match interview when the whole German team stormed the interview booth to jump on their team mates in celebration. Go to badminton Europe TV to see that and all the other action for the day on demand and for free.
Badminton Europe TV are streaming the championships all week from court 1.

Just click HERE to log in and register and watch for free!

Follow Badminton Europe on Facebook for a full live photo gallery by clicking HERE.

For all results click HERE
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