Events

Weisskirchen sets sights on double gold
Date: 4/3/2015 3:13 PM
Published by : Manuel Røsler
Germany’s Max Weisskirchen (pictured) walked away from semi-finals day ay the 2015 European Junior Championships individual competition with dreams of double gold still intact after a pair of victories in both the mixed doubles, with partner Eva Janssens, and in the men’s singles where he is top seed.

The German was out early in the first match with Janssens and in truth were rarely troubled by Hammer & Tran from France even though the first set was won by the slimmest margin 21-19. The Germans completely outplayed the French in the second game and booked their final spot with a 21-12 win in the second.

“The first set was not our best badminton as maybe we had some nerves but we controlled the second set and are just so happy now to be in the final tomorrow” said Weisskirchen immediately after the victory.

The Germans will now play Søgaard Mortensen & Lundgaard for gold after the Danes beat top seeds Pugh and Lane from England in two games.

While the mixed doubles went the way of the German his singles turned out to be an epic battle against Turk Muhammed Ali Kurt. Weisskirchen took the opening set 21-18 but the Turk saved one match point at 23-22 to win the next three points to take the match into a deciding rubber.

The German top seed had things under control in the deciding game leading 18-13 but Kurt took the next five points to level at 18-18. The Turk even managed to put himself into a winning position with match point at 20-19 but it was the German who held his nerve best at the crucial time to book his final berth with a 23-21 win.

“It really is a battle of nerves sometimes with Kurt as he can be so crazy on court sometimes but I believed in myself and my game and now I have a chance to win two gold medal” said the German.

Weisskirchen will have a tough task ahead of him in the final of the men’s singles as standing opposite him will be Danish wonder kid Anders Antonsen. The Dane took just 30 minutes to see off the challenge of Frenchman Toma Junior Popov and will probably be favourite to lift the title even as the lower seeded player in the final.



Jakobsen the surprise packet of the tournament


Like Weisskirchen, Julie Dawall Jakobsen will also contest two finals tomorrow after victories today in both the women’s singles and women’s doubles semi-finals.

The bubbly Dane has been the find of the tournament and the manner of her comfortable win over Aliye Demirbag of Turkey will leave the Dane full of confidence ahead of tomorrows final. Jakobsen will play friend and compatriot Mia Blichfeldt in tomorrow’s final after the all action Dane was equally impressive in her two game win over Luise Heim of Germany.

“I feel I have gotten a bit better as each match has gone” said Blichfeldt after her semi-final victory. “Tomorrow against Julie we will just put our friendship aside for the match and battle it out to win gold”

Jakobsen will line up beside Ditte Søby Hansen in the women’s doubles final where their opponents will be the sole remaining French players in the competition Anne Tran and Verlaine Faulmann.

English hopes rest on the shoulders of Vendy & Lane

Just as Tran and Faulmann are the sole representatives from France left on the final day so two are Ben Lane and Sean Vendy from an English perspective. The English top seeds were taken the distance by Bay-Smidt & Søgaard Mortensen in today’s semi-final only coming through 21-18 in the deciding game.

The English will square off against second seeded Danes Bond & Eipe after the Danes two were taken the distance by Scottish duo Hall & Dunn.

All the action will be live from 10am (local time) tomorrow where there is a possibility that Denmark can lift all five titles.

All the action can be viewed on Badminton Europe’s YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

For all results from today’s semi-finals click HERE.

For a full picture gallery from today’s action follow Badminton Europe on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Article and photo by Mark Phelan.
©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

Related news
29/03/2024
Europeans ready for quarterfinals in Madrid
European favourites out of the...

27/03/2024
EOC Executive Committee awards 2027 European Games to Istanbul
The European Olympic Committee...

27/03/2024
Madrid Spain Masters day 2: Victories, upsets, and excitement on court.
French siblings sweep to victo...

26/03/2024
A first action-packed day unfolds at the Spain Masters
The Madrid Spain Masters 2024 ...

26/03/2024
Spain Masters begins today with an unexpected withdrawal!
Madrid is buzzing with excitem...

25/03/2024
Lane/ Vendy and Marin, victorious at Swiss Open
The Swiss Open concluded this ...

More news