EUROPEANS – Quarter finals line up decided

Marc Zwiebler, Germany


Elizabeth Cann



The evening session on the final day of the round robin stages of this years European Team Championships drew few surprises as all 8 seeds booked their place in tomorrow’s quarter finals. Denmark were first to show their true colours as they whitewashed a young Irish team 5-0 to top group 1. England and Germany duly followed with Susan Hughes supplying the only ray of light in the battle of Britain in beating Elizabeth Cann in three sets.

By Mark Phelan (Live) Photos: badmintonphoto.com (Live in Liverpool)
Denmark took to the court this evening fielding almost a full strength team against Ireland and in doing so dented some Irish pride as the Danes sailed into the quarter final with a somewhat easy 5-0 win. Joachim Persson refuelled his confidence tank after his defeat yesterday with a 21-13 21-18 win over Scott Evans. Nanna Brosolat Jensen, playing her 3rd match in two days, saw off a resurgent Chloe Magee but had to fight hard in her 24-22 21-15 victory over the Irish number 1. Boe and Mogensen came together for the first time this tournament and cruised to a 2 set win over Irish national champions Gleave and Magee in the men’s doubles. Roepke and Pedersen followed their team mates and in just 16 minutes claimed a 21-8 21-8 win over Sinead Chambers and Donna Scott. Denmark completed the rout as the experienced duo of Laybourn and Rytter Juhl defeated a visibly jaded Evans and Magee 21-11 21-19 after the Irish pair had given all for their country this week.
“In the first set I was in control at 15-4 but relaxed to much and mentally was not there so I became angry instead of enjoying the game. I just injected a little bit more speed into my game then and I managed to win. I was really great for me to win the three games I played in this week” Brosolat Jensen commented after her win over Magee.

Poland never looked in trouble against Bulgaria in the top of the table group 6 match as they cruised to a 4-1 win but are sure to be worried about their continued lack of prowess in the women’s singles department. Once again the Poles lost the discipline as Linda Zechiri beat Anna Narel in two sets. Poland now play number 5 seeds The Netherlands in tomorrows quarter final. Germany coasted to a 5-0 win over former champions Sweden but were pushed the distance in both the Men’s singles and the women’s doubles. In the quarter final the Germans will play Russia who beat Belarus earlier in the day to top group 4.

The anticipated final between Denmark and England is still on course as the English beat near neighbours Scotland 4-1 in an entertaining match on court 2. The English didn’t have it all their own way as Susan Hughes kept the Scots in the game with a 3 set win over Elizabeth Cann in the 3rd match on court. Clark and Robertson took three sets to finally see off the challenge of Briggs and Bowman before Donna Kellogg and Jenny Wallwork beat Jillie Cooper and Imogen Bankier in two sets.
“It was great to get this win today and was made all the more sweet given the fact it was against England” said Susan Hughes after her win
Elsewhere Spain Beat Slovenia to take third spot in group 1 and Czech Republic defeated Wales in the bottom of the table clash in group 8.

All Results can be found HERE.