General

Ivanov/Sozonov ready to complete hat-trick
Date: 7/18/2017 10:26 AM
Published by : Manuel Røsler

Russia’s power duo Vladimir Ivanov & Ivan Sozonov (main picture) are determined to show on home soil the form that won them the Yonex All-England title in 2016.

The former European Champions (2014) are eager to defend the men’s doubles crown which they won in 2015 and 2016 … and in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.


Despite the disappointment of losing at this year's European Championships in Kolding at an early stage, last year - with the sensational Yonex All-England title - proved a turning point for the gritty duo who also reached the quarter-finals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“More media want to talk to us. We have done many interviews and a lot more people are following our matches and are congratulating us on our success. There is a different view of Russian badminton now, especially for doubles,” said the 27-year-old Ivanov, adding that more opponents “are targeting us and want to beat us now”.

Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov, who are the top seeds, will start their hat-trick campaign against the Russian-Ukrainian pair of Yuriy ISMOGILOV/Artem POCHTAROV in the first round. It is expected that Japanese pair Keiichiro MATSUI/Yoshinori TAKEUCHI will be the first test on their way to the semi-finals. Malaysia’s Low Juan Shen-Chooi Kah Ming are second seeds.

"Team France" with a small but strong team in Vladivostok

France sent a small but strong team to Russia. The mixed duo Bastian Kersaudy/Lea Palermo are seeded second; their compatriots Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue are the number four seeds.
 
The Russian Open Grand Prix offers a total prize money of 65.000 US Dollars and will kick off in Vladivostok on Tuesday, July 18. 

Tradition since 1992 - Grand Prix Gold since 2007

Famous Russian Open champions in the past include former men’s singles world champions Hendrawan (1995) and Sun Jun (China), 1996 Olympic Champion Poul-Erik Høyer, who won the event in 1997 and former Chinese women’s singles superstar Wang Yihan (2007).

Russian Open GP title holders:

MS: Zulfadli Zulkiffli (MAS)
WS: Gadde Ruthvika Shivani (IND)
MD: Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov (RUS)
WD: Anastasia Chervyakova/Olga Morozova (RUS)
XD: Pranaav Jerry Chopra/N. Sikki Reddy (IND)

Click here for all results of the Russian Open 2017.

Article by Manuel Rösler. Photos by BadmintonPhoto.
©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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