DUTCH OPEN 2010 – Schenk and mate

Juliane Schenk from Germany scooped the Yonex Dutch Open Grand Prix this afternoon in Almere, Netherlands after beating former title holder Yao Jie from the host country. Russia and Japan shared the other titles.

Raphael Sachetat. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

If Olga Konon’s arrival under the German flag made the headlines this week, Juliane Schenk (pictured) surely didn’t want to vanish once again in the shadow of another immigrant.  After years of being the eternal second to Xu Huaiwen, the new no.1 shuttler for Germany made sure everyone knows she is in now charge at home and, after beating Konon in the semis, made it all the way to the top by beating Dutch top seed Yao Jie in the final of the women’s singles, in just under one hour of play and a score of 21-13, 14-21, 21-15.

Russia and Japan scooped two titles each in the other events. Still no international successs for the appealing pair of Reiko Shiota and Shintaro Ikeda as the Japanese mixed pair went down to Russia’s 4^th seeds Nikolaenko and Vislova.

Sho Sasaki (photo) and the duo of Hashitomo/Hirata made up for their compatriots by clinching gold in the men’s events, while Russia made it two in the women’s doubles final, with another victory Vislova, this time with Sorokina against Japan’s Fujii/Kakiiwa.

Europe’s haul of gold may well be a pattern for this European leg of the international tour as most of the top Asian players are staying home to concentrate on Asian Games preparation.  Still there will be some key Asian challengers to European badminton power as we move north for the ninth leg of the Super Series.

All results HERE