GUATEMALA INT’L – Double delight for Sozonov

Very few players can brag that they can play at a high level both in singles and doubles. Ivan Sozonov could be the next “Mia Audina” as the Russian clinched gold in both men’s singles and men’s doubles this weekend in Guatemala City for the Guatemala International Challenge 2011.

By Raphael Sachetat. Photo: rights reserved

In the men’s singles event, the tall Russian beat his compatriot Ivanov 21-16, 9-21, 21-18. The two compatriots were to play on the same side of the net a little later on in the men’s doubles, this time as top seeds, in the final against Canada’s Liu and Ng. The Europeans had the best over their opponents 21-13, 21-16.

In beating Swiss Jeanine Cicognini in two games, Michelle Li of Canada proved once again that she was one of the most promising shuttlers in the American continent but this was actually her first international singles title.

Grace Gao was one of two Canadians who were vying to be another “double” winner of the day, but while she and Toby Ng found victory in the mixed doubles, the women’s doubles crown eluded her and partner Joycelyn Ko as they bowed to Paula Obanana / Eva Lee  of the U.S.A.  Derrick Ng had already lost out to brother Toby in the mixed by the time he and Adrian Liu fell to the pairing of Russian singles finalists in men’s doubles.

Full results
MS: Ivan Sozonov (RUS) bt Vladimir Ivanov (RUS) 21-16, 9-21, 21-18
WS: Michelle Li (CAN) bt Jeanine Cicognini (SUI) 21-15, 21-13
MD: Sozonov/Ivanov (RUS) bt Ng/Liu (CAN)  21-13, 21-16
WD: Obanana/Lee (USA) bt Gao/Ko (CAN) 21-19, 18-21, 21-13
XD: Ng/Gao (CAN) bt Ng/Bruce (CAN) 22-20, 21-14

All results HERE