The atmosphere and level of play cranked up several gears today at the European Mixed Team Championships in Ramenskoe as team Denmark introduced all their big stars as the business end of the tournament got under way.

The Danes were taking no chances in their quarter final match today against Scotland with their team sheet consisting of world number one men’s doubles pair Boe and Mogensen, world number 4 pair Fischer and Pedersen (pictured) and world number 17 men’s singles player Hans-Kristian Vittinghus.

Team Scotland were always going to be up against it today after losing Kirsty Gilmour through injury yesterday. Bankier and Van Rietvelde put up a good fight against Fischer and Pedersen and the Scots were always in the match from the outset but the Danes, calling on all their experience, came through 21-18 21-17.

That win was the catalyst for team Denmark to shift into another gear and as expected Hans-Kristian Vittinghus blew away Calum Menzies in two easy games and Caitlin Pringle, making her senior debut for Scotland in place of Gilmour, struggled against the pace of Danish youngster Natalia Koch Rhode with the lanky Dane coming through in two 21-12 21-12 to give Denmark the match.

“We were always worried about the quality of Bankier and Van Rietvelde after all Imogen is a world silver medallist and they played a good game against Joachim and Christinna but we knew were had the power in the singles and we are glad to take the match 3-0” said newly arrived Hans-Kristian Vittinghus to Badminton Europe.

Team Russia had the support of a very vocal home crowd in their match against The Netherlands and Jorrit De Ruiter and Samantha Barning had no answers to the quality serving from Olympic bronze medallist Valeri Sorokina. The Russians took the opening mixed doubles and Vladimir Malkov followed up with victory over Eric Pang before the fairy-tale was completed by the returning Ella Diehl who defeated Patty Stolzenbach in her first appearance for Russia in over two years.

“It is hard to explain the feeling inside right now” said Diehl after her win “Patty played so well and credit to her but I felt the support of my team and the crowd and I just fought right to the end”

Germany too had little resistance from France and in one of the matches of the day Marc Zwiebler came out on top in three sets over Brice Leverdez. Juliane Schenk put the disappointment of yesterday’s defeat to Carolina Marin behind her in her defeat of French national champion Delphine Lanscac. The German to were 3-0 winners and will now play the host nation in tomorrow’s semi-final.

England were the only team from the elite top  four who dropped a game after Sarah Walker went down in a three close setter to Larisa Griga from the Ukraine but the rest of the team came through to deliver the win and guarantee the English at least a bronze medal.

Andy Ellis was the English hero of the day winning both the mixed doubles with Jenny Wallwork and securing the final point alongside Chris Adcock in the men’s doubles and the Englishman now has his eyes set on a match up with Boe and Mogensen.

“We have had some pretty good ding dong battles with the Danish world number ones over the past year and really I cannot wait to get to play them tomorrow, that’s if I am picked of course” said Ellis jokingly. “The Danes are always favourites but we believe we have the team to break them so that is our aim tomorrow.

For all results from todays play click HERE
For a full facebook photo gallery click HERE
To re visit all the on court action from today and view the highlights videos from all days play visit Badminton Europe’s You Tube channel by clicking HERE

Article by Mark Phelan (Live in Russia) Photo by Badminton Photo (Live)