Events

Tine back to her best
Date: 4/22/2012 5:26 PM
Published by : Manuel Røsler
Tine Baun retained her European title today in Karlskrona, Sweden in what was a clear indication of her return to form as she heads to the Indian Super Series next week.

The queen of European badminton, who has been free now from injury for almost the past two months, displayed all the qualities that brought her two All England title and made her the most feared European on the world badminton stage, as she fended off the stiff challenge from second seeded German Juliane Schenk.

Schenk got off to a magical start in the opening game leading 5-0 and Baun looked to be slightly off the pace of the game and trailing 16-13 Tine looked to have let her chance slip. But the never say die Dane came storming back to take the set as Schenk looked to the sky in disbelief. The German came right back in the second game and again got a fast start but unlike the first game this time closed out the set 21-16 as she led from start to finish.

The third set was much closer throughout but Baun made the decisive move when tied 17-17. The Dane’s magical net play took her into a two point lead at 19-17 which she was not to relinquish as she stormed to the match to retain the title she won in Manchester two years ago.

There have been a lot of ups and downs over the past few years for Baun, mainly due to injury, which made today’s win taste all the more sweet. But it is clear from her performance today that her sharpness is back and the former world number 1 is really coming good with the Olympics now just around the corner.

“It’s great to retain my title here. It is always going to be tough against Juliane and in so many ways  to win this title is so much more satisfying that the last time. Now I feel in good shape and can play freely without injury so there is a lot more confidence to play the shots and play with a free mind.”  Said a happy Tine Baun to Badminton Europe.

In the much anticipated men’s singles final German, Marc Zwiebler turned bronze from two years ago into gold as he ended the fantastic run of local boy Henri Hurskainen. The atmosphere in the hall was electric for the game but the large crowd were unable to help there man over the last hurdle. Zwiebler was quiet simple awesome today and Hurskainen had no answers to his high tempo attack.

“I did not feel in the greatest of shape coming into this tournament as I am in the middle of my physical preparation for the Olympics. But I have grown throughout the tournament and knew that I had the game to bet Henri as I have beaten him many times before” commented the new champion to Badminton Europe.

The mixed doubles final certainly heralded the return of the Polish duo Mateusiak and Zieba as the Poles literally tore the tournament apart en route to gold. In today’s final they came up against stiff opposition in the shape of Kolding and Houmann from Denmark, but even after a late stumble at the end of the second game the Poles took the match to prove their credentials as one of Europe’s top pairs.

“This is my third final and finally we managed to win so I think maybe this was our time today” said Matuesiak to Badminton Europe.

The men’s doubles final ended as expected with a rout for the world number 3 pairing of Boe and Mogensen. The Danes rolled over the challenge of the German pair Fuchs and Roth in two sets 21-11 21-11 to take the title that had eluded them in previous years.

The ladies doubles as expected went to the top European pair of Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen in the all Danish shoot out against Røpke and Kruse. The top seeds were forced to battle against the number two Danish pair but came out on top in two close games.

The new European Champions:

MS: Marc Zwiebler (GER)
WS: Tine Baun (DEN)
MD: Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN)
WD: Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Christinna Pedersen (DEN)
MX: Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Zieba (POL)

For all Results click HERE

Article and Image By Mark Phelan (Live in Karlskrona)
©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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