CYPRUS INT’L – Axelsen is “Just too strong”

Viktor Axelsen (photo) bagged his first international badminton tournament for the SOTX International Series in Cyprus this Sunday after an amazing week of badminton for him. He beat in form French veteran Maunoury in straight games.

By Raphael Sachetat. Photos: Mark Phelan for Badmintonphoto (archives)

This week-end was very symbolic of what the future of badminton may look like. Thailand’s Intanon winner in Indonesia, while Viktor Axelsen was crowned for the first time in an International event in Cyprus. Two of the most promising players – 15 and 16 respectively are starting to put gold around their necks, and it seems to be that it is just a beginning…

Axelsen had reached the final of an EBU sanctioned tournament before – in Sweden last year – but had never gotten on top of the podium. He did so in Nicosie, for the US$5,000 by beating France’s Maunoury in straight games, 21-10, 21-11 in 24 minutes.

“He was just too strong. I was tired, of course, but overall, he was just the best on court today, which explains the score,” said the Frenchman, who is no pushover has he had almost beaten Wong Choong Hann in the recent Yonex World Championships in Paris. Axelsen ends up this week on a good note after sailing through every single stage of the tournament in Nicosie, failing to drop a game with scores which show how far above the rest of the competitors he was.

Carolina in Viktor’s footsteps

Another young European prospect also made a showing in Nicosie – 17 year old Carolina Marin of Spain clinched gold medal – the second for her this year after a success in Uganda. She avenged last year’s defeat to Spela Sylvester in Nicosie by beating Russia’s  Olga Golovanova in three games.

Finals results :

MS: Viktor Axelsen (DEN) beat Simon Maunoury (FRA) : 21-10, 21-11
WS: Carolina Marin (SPA) beat Olga Golovanova (RUS): 21-12, 25-27, 21-14
MD: Idrianto/Kusdianto (INA) beat Nohr/Pedersen (DEN): 21-15, 15-21, 21-19
WD: Gabdullina/Kosestkaya (RUS) beat Grebak/Overgaard (DEN): 21-18, 21-9
XD: Nohr/Grebak (DEN) beat Grachev/Chervyakova (RUS): 21-13, 18-21, 21-12

All results HERE