The badminton year 2015 got off to an exciting start at the Yonex Estonian International with thrilling matches and some surprise winners.

In the men’s singles, the top seed from Finland, Eetu Heino, did not get through the quarter-finals as he lost to the eventual finalist Toby Penty of England. But another Finn fought his way to the finals. Anton Kaisti sent out the home crowd favourite and second seeded Raul Must in the semi-finals in three-games 9-21, 21-16, 21-17. In Sunday’s finals, he continued to show his good attacking play and defeated Toby Penty in two games 21-16, 21-16. For the 22-year-old Kaisti the Estoanian victory means the first singles title on the circuit.

The women’s singles finals saw a match between the two top seeds, Russia’s Olga Golovanova and Estonia’s  Kati Tolmoff. Golovanova got off to a good start and a lead 9-2 but Tolmoff fought her way back but eventually lost the first game to Golovanova 21-23. The second game was dominated by the Estonian. The third game offered many exciting rallies but on decisive points Golovanova managed to put more pressure on Tolmoff. The Russian won the match 23-21, 12-21, 21-18.

In the men’s doubles, Laurent Constantin and Matthieu Lo Yong Ping of France regained the title they lost at last year’s edition. The French duo beat surprising finalstis Mika Köngas and Jesper von Hertzen (Finland) 21-14, 21-19. Russians Olga Morozova and Victoria Dergunova took the title in the women’s doubles as they beat the Danes Amanda Madsen and Isabella Nielsen 21-17, 21-12.

The young Danish duo of Amanda Madsen and Kasper Antonsen beat Germany’s Eva Janssens and Max Weisskirchen 21-17, 21-16 to secure the mixed doubled crown.

The finals results:

MS: Anton Kaisti (FIN) - Toby Penty (ENG) 21-16, 21-16
WS: Olga Golovanova (RUS) - Kati Tolmoff (EST) 23-21, 13-21, 21-18
MD: Laurent Constantin/Matthieu Lo Ying Ping (FRA) - Mika Kongas/Jesper Von Hertzen (FIN) 21-14, 21-19
WD: Victoria Dergunova/Olga Morozova (RUS) - Amanda Madsen/Isabella Nielsen (DEN) 21-17, 21-12
XD: Kasper Antonsen/Amanda Madsen (DEN) - Max Weisskirchen/Eva Janssens (GER) 21-17, 21-16

Article by Renna Unt. Photos by Martti Vaidla.