Events

(Photo: Badminton Europe)
Seven years apart, a very different feeling
Date: 5/6/2021 3:51 PM
Published by : Alan Raftery
Vladimir Ivanov/ Ivan Sozonov epitomised their longevity as a pair, winning their second European Championships gold in Kyiv seven years after their first one in 2014 Kazan, Russia. 

The third seeds, as they were in 2014, played a strong tournament throughout. While all other pairs were fighting in three-game marathons, Ivanov, 33, Sozonov, 31, calmly navigated their way to the final, defeated their long-standing rivals, Marcus Ellis/ Chris Langridge 21-15, 21-10. 

They were due to face the in-form Germans, Mark Lamsfuss/ Marvin Seidel, but due to a positive COVID-19 result from the former, the final was cancelled. Following picking up their medals, Ivanov summed up their feelings. 

-Emotions are very good. But of course, it is a little different because we do not play today. It’s a dramatic situation for the German players and Denmark with Viktor Axelsen. This is terrible. However, this is the situation for us in sport for the last year and a half. 

They will now go into the Olympics and World Championships later in the year as the European Champions, but they would have like to play the final. 

-This gives us some confidence for the future. We are happy to win again, but I agree with Vladimir that it is a different feeling. When you hit that last point who release the pressure, emotion and everything. For that moment you work hard. But for now we do not have a good situation in the world, Sozonov stated. 

A message to Germany
Both Ivanov and Sozonov were keen to share their supportive words to the pair denied the final. 

-The German guys have played a great tournament with two great comebacks in the previous two matches, and they really wanted to play in their first final. I would like to say good luck to them, and all the best for the next tournament, that’s life. 

-It is a historic result. Sounds good to call ourselves two-time European Champions. In maybe ten years, nobody will remember this situation, but in ourselves we know about it. We cannot change it, it has happened. 

An emotional dedication
In 2014, Ivanov/ Sozonov battled hard on home soil to even reach the podium. Two tight three-game matches with Poland’s Adam Cwalina/ Przemyslaw Wacha and England’s Chris Langridge/ Peter Mills secured them a medal and a semifinal clash with reigning champions Mathias Boe/ Carsten Mogensen. 

Previous losses to the Danes at the 2012 European Championships and Olympics Games put the pressure on, but their first win against them at the Indonesia Open 2013 gave them hope. In yet another tight three-game fight going to the wire, they made it to the final in front of the Russian support. 

In emotional scenes in Russia, they stormed to victory in the final against Mads Conrad-Petersen/ Mads Pieler Kolding. Sozonov reminiscing about this first win and contrasting it with today, he dedicates his 2021 gold to someone very special to him. 

-On Thursday, my grandfather passed away. My father told me in the morning. He saw our first victory in 2014. If you saw the finals, I go to the tribune to hug him. Today this is a terrible news for me, and I want to dedicate this medal for my grandfather. 

A poignant moment for all hearing these words from champions. They found a commendable balance between acknowledging their historic win, but also sent respectful messages to their opponents who were down on their luck. 

‘That’s life’ Sozonov said, and as Frank Sinatra wrote - ‘You're riding high in April, shot down in May… but I pick myself up and get back in the race’
©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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