Lubin: World No. 23 Line Kjaersfeldt ensured the Denmark retained their 16th European Mixed Team Badminton Championships title with a straight sets victory over Evgeniya Kosetskaya in the decisive women’s singles match to seal a 3-0 final victory over Russia on Sunday.
Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen got Denmark off to a flying start in the mixed doubles match when they showed great resilience to fend off Russia’s Ivan Sozonov and Ekaterina Bolotova 24-22, 21-10 in 45 minutes to win the first point for Denmark.
Denmark’s gamble paid off when they decided to bench World No. 3 men’s singles player Viktor Axelsen who lost his semi-final match on Saturday, and replaced Axelsen with World No. 28 Anders Antonsen. Antonsen lived up to the billing as he ultimately prevailed with a 21-7, 21-8 victory to hand Denmark a 2-0 advantage.
Line Kjaersfeldt who has been struggling throughout the tournament, won what was by far her best match of the tournament by sweeping Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia 21-15, 21-15 in the women’s singles match to secure a 3-0 victory for Denmark.
England and Germany shared the bronze medal after both lost to Russia and Denmark in the semi-finals on Saturday.