Events

Domke from Zero to Hero
Date: 6/24/2015 5:48 PM
Published by : Manuel Røsler
Today saw the completion of all but the mixed doubles group stages in Baku as players battled it out to secure those coveted quarter final spots by finishing first and second in their respective groups. Coming into the days play Germany’s Dieter Domke languished outside the automatic qualification spots but by the end of the morning session the German was top of the pile in men’s singles group C.

Domke had a poor start to the competition losing his opening match to Estonian number 1 Raul Must which left the German with an uphill task if he was to qualify from a group that had Pablo Abian as the top seed.

Domke steadied the ship beating Iztok Utrosa which left him needing to beat the Spaniard in two straight games to have any chance of qualifying. Abian and Must were clear favourites to advance going into the final round of matches but neither could have forecasted the sequence of event that unfolded.

The German got off to a flying start taking the opening game on the TV court against Abian meanwhile on the adjoining court Iztok Utrosa upset the odds by taking the opening game against Must.

A focused German pulled off the impossible by beating the Spanish favourite in the two straight games needed and in a crazy twist of fate, Iztok Utrosa beat Raul Must also in two games to consign the Estonian number 1 to last place in the group after looking almost sure to qualify just an hour before.

Experience of a lifetime for young Portuguese

World number 3 men’s doubles pair Mathias Boe & Carsten Mogensen cruised through their qualification group A this evening in Baku. The Danes travelled to Baku to get used to the environment of a major multi-sport event in preparation for the Olympics in Rio next year. In their final match the Danes faced young Portuguese pair Ricardo & Angelo Silva and even in defeat the young Portuguese will remember this match for the rest of their lives.

The Portuguese u19 boys have looked to up the Danes all their lives as their heroes and the nerves were evident as soon as they shook hands with their illustrious opponents before the match started.

Boe & Mogensen soon got into their stride taking the opening game 21-10, even with 5 service faults called against Boe, and in double quick time took the match and top spot in the group with a 21-7 win in the second game in what was a once in a lifetime experience for Silva & Silva.

Tolmoff tops group of death on games difference from Tan & Magee

Women’s group F was full on intrigue ever since the opening day’s match when Kati Tolmoff beat Chloe Magee in two games. Magee had got off to a slow start in Baku and even a win over Kristine Sefere and a final 2-1 win over Lianne Tan was still not enough to keep the Irish 5th seed in the tournament.

Kati Tolmoff ended up topping the group from Tan and Magee all with two matches won but it’s the Irish number one who goes home by virtue of a worse game difference.

After play the draw was made for the knockout stages of the tournament in men’s & women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles. To view the draw go to the official website www.baku2015.com

The conclusion of the group stages of the mixed doubles takes place at 10am (local time) tomorrow.

For a photo gallery from today’s play in Baku click HERE.

Article & Image by Mark Phelan (Live in Baku).
©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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