EUROPEAN Semi Finals – Rasmussen Unleashed

Denmark flexed their European muscles today at the European Championships as they destroyed Russia 3-0 to book their spot in tomorrows final. For the first time this week Tine Rasmussen was introduced in the women’s singles and after a slow start against Ella Diehl the world number one kicked into overdrive to signal that the sharp end of the tournament has well and truly begun.

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

As if we were in any doubt that the team to beat this week are Denmark, in today’s semi final the Danes fielded an awesome team which had people talking and discussing for hours before play even commenced as to how Russia would ever break them down. All the talk and all the discussion proved pointless as Denmark coasted to an easy semi final win over a shell-shocked Russia.
Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl made their first appearance as a pair in this years event and the world number 5 pairing expended little energy in handing Denmark a 1-0 lead as they happily disposed of Vitaly Durkin and Nina Vislova 21-13 21-16. All this achieved with Joachim Fischer Neilsen and Christinna Pedersen watching from the sidelines. What a luxury to have the world number 6 pair in reserve if needed.
Joachim Persson made his first appearance since his shock defeat to Pablo Abian in the first qualifying match and this time the Dane was in no mood for extended three set battles. Persson took just 25 minutes to quell the advances of Ivan Sozonov 21-14 21-12 to give coach Kenneth Jonassen a massive headache as to whom he selects for the final tomorrow. Jan O Jorgensen has, without doubt, done his part for the Danish cause this week and is sure to be in Jonassens mind. Will Gade appear for the final? Who knows, but one thing is for sure whoever plays will more than likely start as favourite.
In the women’s singles today Denmark unleashed the force that is Tine Rasmussen on the Echo Arena. The world number 1 looked a bit rusty to start with and at 11-4 down in the opener the crowd sensed a shock on the cards. Even a 7 point lead is obviously not enough against a player who is at the summit of the world game as Rasmussen clawed her way back into the opening set to tie the game at 16-16. At this point her opponent Ella Diehl appeared to admit defeat as Rasmussen just coasted over the line to take the opening set 21-18. The second set was over in a blink of an eye as Rasmussen went on a 10 point winning streak to take a 15-3 lead. There was never going to be anyway back for Diehl at that point and Rasmussen just went into freewheel mode as she took the game 21-7 and with it a place in tomorrows final for her and her Danish team mates.

“Our team is feeling very good and we were ready for today’s game. We knew we had a better team than Russia but we were aware that they had some very good players and we needed to get the job done. Kamilla and Thomas were excellent in the mixed and Joachim Persson played vey well today in the men’s singles to give us a good lead. Tine needed a set to settle but after that she played to her best” said Marie Ropke after her team’s semi final win today

The Russians celebrated at the end as a bronze medal for them is a first in this European badminton team event. The Danes progress to the final, as was expected, and have clearly only one thing on their minds…. GOLD!!!