SWEDISH INT’L 2011 SF – Japanese women dominate

Semi-finals day at the Swedish International and the dominant Japanese women’s singles players killed off the remaining European challenge as both Mayu Sekiya and the defending champion Kaori  Imabeppu (pictured) advanced to Sunday’s final.

Article and Images by Mark Phelan (Live in Sweden)

From day one here in Stockholm the Japanese women singles players have flexed their muscle as one by one they sent the best of the European Challenge packing. Today was to be no different as both Japanese representatives in the semi final once again defeated much fancied European opposition.

The surprise packet of the draw has certainly been the unknown Mayu Sekiya who has reached the final via a trip through Thursday’s qualification. The lanky Japanese player, whose best result to date was a quarter final at the 2010 Osaka International Challenge, has dispensed of more illustrious European opposition in the form of Judith Meulendjiks and Susan Egelstaff in today’s semi final.

Less of a surprise is the return to the final of 2010 champion Kaori Imabeppu who today beat the vocal Spaniard Carolina Marin in three sets. It has been a tough tournament so far for the pocket rocket Japanese shuttler as all have her games to date have either gone the 3 set distance or been epic extended 2 set battles. The world number 87, whose form has been indifferent since her victory here in Sweden last year, has displayed a great determination in reaching Sunday’s final. It is obvious that she enjoys the courts here in Sweden and even under pressure plays with a smile on her face.

In the men’s singles there is a more familiar look to the final line up as Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen controlled his match against Kestutis Navakis to book a final spot for the second year in succession. The Dane will be going all out to take his first Int Challenge victory after defeat here in last year’s final.

Only Pablo Abian (pictured) now stands in the way of the Danes path to gold and the Spaniard certainly has the credentials and the hunger to lift the title. Abian was runner up in both Ireland and Italy at the back end of 2010 and certainly feels he has a point to prove here in Sweden. In today’s semi final the Spaniard was taken all the way to 3 sets by number 1 seed Eric Pang of The Netherlands in a match that really could have gone either way.

While in general the European Powerhouse of Denmark has failed to dominate in the way it normally does here in Sweden the Danes certainly have a lot to be happy about as Marie Ropke seems to have settle in well with her new partner Line Kruse after going through a troubled year searching for someone to take the place of long time partner Helle Nielsen. The new Danish pairing has defeated 2 Japanese pairing en route to final and, although advanced to the final after English duo of Olver and Agathangelou had to retire due to injury, the Danes look comfortable in each other’s company. If Ropke is to lift this title for the second consecutive year she and Kruse will have to pray for third time lucky as their opponents in Sunday’s final are Japanese pair Eto and Wakita who defeated Irish International champions Skelbaek and Helsbol in the semi final.

In the mixed doubles Samantha Barning and Dave Khodabux (pictured) ended the Irish challenge of the Magee siblings in 2 sets while Olver and Middleton advanced to the final with a victory over Bjuner and Sodikon. Middleton is yet another returning after tasting victory here in 2010. On that occasion it was in the men’s doubles with Chris Langridge who has now gone on to partner Anthony Clark.

For all results click HERE and follow the live action on Badminton Europe TV HERE