After seven years of waiting: Denmark back on top
For the first time since 2013 Denmark won the European Junior Team Championships.
The 2020 European Junior Team Championships final is for sure one to remember. France and Denmark put up a great fight, and after two times bronze medals and one-time silver, the Danes are back at the very top of the podium winning the final 3-0.
In a thrilling opening game of the tie, Danes Mads Vestergaard/Clara Løber delivered a minor upset beating Christo Popov/Flavie Vallet 18-21 21-17 21-19 in a matchup that lasted for 51 minutes.
- The last few points were the most important points of the match. We made some easy mistakes and we made more mistakes in the end compared to them. Of course, we are frustrated losing this one, because it was an important point, Christo Popov said.
Clash of the future stars
Magnus Johannesen, Denmark, is expected to be one for the future for Danish men’s singles, while French youngster, Alex Lanier, has already shown that he is one to watch winning medals at the European U15 and European U17 tournaments.
The men’s singles matchup was as intense as the mixed double with Magnus Johannesen winning the first game 22-20. Lanier was trailing in the beginning of the second game, but from 12-12 the French dominated winning the game 21-17.
The Dane controlled the third game, and Johannesen, who was part of the Danish team winning the 2017 European U17 title secured a 2-0 lead winning the decider 21-9, and thereby it was pay-back time for Magnussen, who two years ago lost in the team final against Arnaud Merklé.
- It is always great to win a match in the final for the team bringing us to a 2-0 lead. I was not ready for his change of game in the second game, but I played well in the third. I saw that he looked tired in the second game, so I made it physically, Johannesen said.
All or nothing
The message to French Anna Tatranova before the women’s singles was pretty clear: secure the point or finish as runner-up. Denmark was leading 2-0 ahead of the matchup between Tatranova and Benedicte Sillassen, so it was all or nothing for the French team.
Sillassen took a comfortable lead, 11-4, at the interval, and there was no doubt that the Dane had the momentum. Sillassen won the first game 21-8.
The last time Denmark lifted the Junior’s team trophy players such as Line Kjaersfeldt, Mathias Christiansen, Rikke Søby and Maiken Fruergaard were part of the team, and now Denmark has a new golden generation.
For the first time since 2013 Denmark claimed the title with Benedicte Sillassen being the match winner winning the second game of the women’s singles 21-17.
- It is overwhelming. It is a big result and I got to play the last game, so I am very happy for my team. Normally I am getting shaky in the end, but today I was focused. I was like "don’t be shaky, don’t be shaky. Play one rally at the time", Benedicte Sillassen said.
The 2020 European Junior Mixed Team Championships podium:
1: Denmark
2: France
3: Estonia & Russia
The individual 2020 European Junior Championships begins today at 15.00 (CET) and all matches will be live streamed at www.badmintoneurope.tv
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