A new week and a new tournament and this week the Badminton Europe Circuit moves to Helsinki for the Finnish Open at the excellent Vantaa Energia Arena on the outskirts of the city. It is one of the emerging stars from that European Juniors last year that grabbed the headlines in today’s qualification and it is abundantly clear that Anastasia Chervyakova
(pictured) is certainly heading for great things in the future.
The Russian 19 year old has the unique capability of being accomplished not only in mixed and doubles but also a singles player with great potential, if her performance in qualification today is anything to go by. Chervyakova came through all three qualification matches without dropping a set and in final qualification only spent 16 minutes on court in a 21-6 21-6 victory.
Following Chervyakavo through to tomorrow’s main draw is fellow Russian youngster Romina Gabdullina and it is clear that both are perfectly comfortable playing on the senior circuit.
There was a shock from a Danish perspective as a miss firing Line Kjærsfeldt just never got into her match against Sonia Su Ya Cheah from Malaysia but Sandra Maria Jensen kept the Danish flag flying to advance to the main draw.
In the men’s draw Kasper Lehikoinen kept the Finnish flag flying with some good solid performances to make it to the main draw where a top draw against number 3 seed Eric Pang awaits the young Finn.
Andrew Smith continues his charge back after a year out of the game through injury to book his place in the main draw but only after an initial early round 3 set scare against Henry Aarnio of Finland. Smith joins fellow Brit Rajiv Ouseph in the main draw who ironically was the man who displaced Smith as England’s top men’s singles player after the last Olympics.
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Article and image by Mark Phelan (Live in Helsinki)