Kalle Koljonen keeps beating the seeded players and now the 27-year-old has secured the very first medal for Finland at the European Championships.

In the second round for the 2021 European Championships, Koljonen, who has practiced at the Badminton Europe Centre of Excellence, beat Toma Junior Popov, who is seeded seven in the tournament, and in the quarterfinals against Dane Rasmus Gemke, the Finnish men’s singles got a good start as it was also the case in the second round against his French opponent. 

Koljonen, who is ranked 68 spots behind Gemke on the current world ranking won the first game 21-15 before Rasmus Gemke got a strong start to the second game.

No words
The Dane took an 11-5 lead before the surprise of the tournament with multiple streaks of point securing the match point. As the first Finnish player ever, Kalle Koljonen won a medal-winning 21-19 in the second game.

- For maybe the first time in my life, I am speechless. I have no words right now. I feel happy but I need to realise what just happened, Kalle Koljonen said.

- I think this is some of the best badminton I have ever played. I know that sometimes when I find my A-game, I can make upsets, and now I have been able to keep the level in a whole tournament, which is not normal for me.

In the semifinals, Kalle Koljonen will once again be the underdog. He will be facing Viktor Axelsen for a spot in the final.

Watch all matches at www.badmintoneurope.tv