DUTCH OPEN 2012 SF – 5 out of 6 for the Dutch

There will be orange flags waving at 3 events for Sunday’s final matches.  All but one of the six Dutch semi-finalists will be given a chance to fight for the coveted gold with two pairs of finalists going up against each other, assuring the Netherlands two of the five top prizes.

By Emzi Regala, Badzine Correspondent. Photos: Arthur van der Velde  (live from Almere)

Indeed, for the home team, everything went as planned! Well, almost. Barning/Muskens started the campaign for the Dutch against Augustyn/Wojtkowska, narrowly taking the first game 21-19.  The Polish pair reversed the scores in the second in their favour, 21-19.  Barning/Muskens proved that they had more stamina as they were able to produce more smash winners, finally taking the final game 21-14.

Their compatriots Piek/Tabeling (photo) took exactly half the time to dispatch their opposition Olver/Robertshaw in two games with identical scores 21-19, 21-19. With this win, the Netherlands is assured of a women’s doubles title.

The orange flag continued to wave as Judith Meulendijks dominated her Swiss opponent Nicole Schaller 21-8, 21-16 while  3rd seed Kristina Gavnholt (photo) of the Czech Republic however spoiled the possible all-Dutch women’s singles finals party when she finally sent Patty Stolzenbach packing 21-15, 21-18.

Dicky Palyama (photo) found his patience paid off when he got the better of Denmark’s Emil Holst, 17-21, 21-19, 21-14. In the match that followed, his fellow countryman Eric Pang showed a solid performance to defeat German Dieter Domke 21-17, 21-13 to assure another gold for the Netherlands, this time in the men’s singles event.

White/Ellis overcame Indonesian brother-sister team Kido/Bernadeth, taking two straight games 21-12, 21-19 to forge an all-European mixed doubles finals. The pair from England goes up against Rytter Juhl and her new partner Kolding who won against the first seeds from Switzerland Dumartheray/Jaquet 21-10, 21-16.

Markis Kido, however, will be given a chance at the gold medal as he and partner Alvent Yulianto Chandra got the better of the 1^st seeds Moren/Szkudlarczyk 21-16, 21-19. They will face Malaysia’s Gan/Ong in the men’s doubles final, the only final match where Asia is even represented.

Click here for complete semi-final results