Krysten Coombs takes his first international gold medal in 2 years and climbs the Race to Tokyo rankings with a SS6 win in Dublin.
The Irish International 2017 was the last tournament where Krysten Coombs claimed gold. A surprising fact given how many finals the Team GB player has featured in since that event. Today he steps out of the shadow of good friend and teammate Jack Shephard, world champion and world number 1, who fell to Indian Nagar Krishna in yesterday’s semi-finals in a 3 set, 52 minute marathon.
Today’s final was heading in the same direction for Nagar, after taking the opening game 16-21 when Coombs struggled with his opponents speed and reach. Coombs came out strongly in the second, using his power to maintain a better intensity and hold a lead to the end at 21-19.
Nagar, appearing to nurse an injury in between points, couldn’t keep up with the Englishman who cruised to the 21-8 finish. The Indian still holds first place in the Race to Tokyo rankings, with Coombs now taking second. Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai in 3rd and Jack Shephard in 4th. Coombs had this to say:
“I feel emotional. It was this time 2 years ago, the last international that I’ve won, here at the Irish. And to beat Nagar, the best player in the world right now. It’s a lot to take in. I came close in Dubai, with a lead going into the end of the third end, so to have made this one count is amaing”
“It’s massive. I have had a good start and it could have been even better if not for the injury in Canada. We’ve got such a great team, I feel very proud.
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Mixed success
Lucas Mazur took the SL4 men’s singles title without dropping a game all week, in fact his opponent Suhas Yathiraj (IND) had the same bragging rights until he met the imposing Frenchman in the final today. A fiery men’s final ended 21-19, 21-17 and the world champion Mazur now leads the way in both ranking lists.
He and partner Faustine Noel started superbly in the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles final against world leaders Harry Susanto and Leani Ratri Oktila (INA). Taking the first game emphatically, and looking strong into the beginning of the second, the French looked on course to finally beat their main rivals. A missed smash towards in the middle of the set seemed to affect the French attack and suddenly the pressure tolled. It ended 21-16, 16-21, 10-21. Noel had this to say:
“I feel frustrated right now. We are getting closer and closer to them, and we let the second set slip away. For a game and a half we were on top, but we made a few mistakes and they took advantage. Maybe mentally they got an advantage. The third set we lacked the intensity, and let the end of the second affect us. More work needed and we will be back fighting for the worlds!”
4 European gold medallists
Rebecca Bedford (ENG) with partner Yasmina Eissa (EGY) took Europe’s 3 gold medal of the day with a 21-16, 21-9 win over Daria Bujnicka (POL) and Nina Koslova (UKR) in the SS6 women’s doubles.
Amir Levi and Nina Gorodetzky made it 4 with a gold for Israel in the WH1-2 mixed doubles final over Konstantin Afinogenov (RUS) and Emine Seckin (TUR). The match ended 11-21, 21-6, 21-14.
Brave attempts at double-gold went to Emine Seckin (WH2) and Faustine Noel (SL4) who come away with two silver medals each, and silver medals go to Cathrine Rosengren (SU5), Helle Sofie Sagoy (SL4), Isaak Dalglish and Niall McVeigh (SS6) and Bartlomiej Mroz (SU5) who all played well this week.
The Irish Para-Badminton International 2019 results can be found on tournament software here.