EUROPEAN CHAMPS Day 1 – Favourites Open In Style

As the European Team Championships kicks off in the impressive Echo Arena, Liverpool today both Germany and The Netherlands sent out a clear signal to all their major rivals that they are here, ready, willing and able and in the form to figure in the final shake up come Sunday.

By: Mark Phelan. Photos: badmintonphoto.com (Live in Liverpool)

As play commenced in the newly constructed Echo Arena all eyes were firmly transfixed on both The Netherlands and Germany as they opened their group campaigns.

The Netherlands took to court 3 of the six court arena and faced a potential tricky tie against a determined and youthful Austrian team. The Dutch immediately stamped their mark on the game as they raced into a 2-0 lead courtesy of Eric Pang (photo right) and when Judith Meulendijks brushed aside the challenge of Miriam Gruber 21-6 21-8 the direction of the tie was no longer in doubt. Koen Ridder and Jurgen Wouthers were forced to work hard against Peter Zauner and Michael Lahnsteiner before prevailing in two 21-17 28-26 before Paulien Van Dooremalen and Yao Jie wrapped (photo top left) up the tie 21-12 21-9 to record an emphatic 5-0 victory

“It feels good to win the first match. Everyone on the team played really well today. There is some drift in the hall and the lights are not the best but it’s the same for everyone so we have to just get on with the job. We are really looking forward to the rest of the competition now as we have no individual competition to worry about after the team event so everyone has the chance to play and not be worried about injuries ahead of any individual event.” Said Van Dooremalen after winning her women’s doubles with partner Yao Jie.

Meanwhile Germany announced their arrival in Liverpool with a equally professional 5-0 win over Slovakia. The Germans stuttered to a start as the mixed pairing of Birgit Overzier and Johannes Schoettler struggled to win the opening set of the opening game 26-24 against Jarolim Vicen and Gabriela Zabavnikova but they soon regained their composure to take the second set 21-15 and give the Germans, sporting their fog horns and cow bells, the lead they needed. Easy wins for Marc Zwiebler and Xu Huaiwen in the men’s and women’s singles eased the Germans into a 3-0 win before their mens doubles of Michael Fuchs/Tim Dettman and women’s doubles Juliane Schenk /Sandra Marinello (photo bottom left) sealed the victory with ease.

Number 4 seeds for the tournament, Poland had to endure a loss in the women’s singles before overcoming the threat posed by Lithuania 4-1. World number 9 Przemyslaw Wacha lead the way with a 2-0 win over Kestutis Navickas before Poland sealed the win with a 2-0 win in the mixed doubles.

Other winners in the morning session of day one were Bulgaria as they destroyed Finland 4-1. Bulgaria with world number 13 Petya Nedelcheva firing on all cylinders are sure to offer stiff competition to the Poles in their quest to top the standings of group 6.

In the closest match of the day Sweden had to fight hard to overcome a stubborn Estonian team as the match went to the final set of the final match. Estonia managed to win both the men’s singles and women’s singles through Raul Must and Kati Tolmoff while Estonia levelled up the match by winning the mixed and Men’s doubles. In the final match the Swedish women’s doubles pair of Emma Wengberg and Elin Bergblom had to fight back from a set down to finally clinch the match for Sweden by 2-1 and with it the overall match 3-2

All results can be found HERE