KHARKOV INT’L Final – Lei 1, Birgit 1

Birgit Michels and Yao Lei met twice in the finals of the Kharkov International tournament on Sunday in Ukraine. If the German took the first round, in the mixed doubles with Michael Fuchs, the smiling Singaporean got her revenge in the women’s doubles with Shinta Mulia Sari. Olga Konon and Brice Leverdez scooped the singles titles while Russia’s Ivanov and Sozonov won the men’s doubles event.

By Raphael Sachetat.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

There were big smiles in Ukraine for all winners who were interviewed by Mark Phelan from BadmintonEurope.tv as there were some good points to win towards the Olympic qualification. The points were shared by two ladies: Birgit Michels – formerly known as Birgit Overzier – and Yao Lei from Singapore. The German took the first leg of their confrontation in the mixed doubles, thanks to a very precise game and a clean 21-18, 21-14. But Yao Lei is not one to weep over a defeat and two matches after, she was back on court with a clear will to win the gold in the women’s doubles event.

“It’s really important for us to win here towards the Olympics as we really hope we can make it to London,” said Shinta Mulia Sari.

Yao Lei, meanwhile, was putting emphasis on the experience: “We like to play against European pairs as they play a different game of badminton from Asians. It’s great practise for us.“

Olga Konon was ecstatic about her win over Susan Egelstaff – not playing at her usual level – and grabbed gold in the women’s singles in just over 24 minutes with a clear 21-9, 21-10 win.

“I didn’t think about the win today, but just of my game. I really feel amazing now,” said the former Belarus champion, now representing Germany.

Frenchman Brice Leverdez took some time to get going as he lost the first game 9-21 to local boy Dmytro Zavadsky but the French shuttler focused and fought for every point in the second and third, with a wide variety of shots, which led him to beat Zavadsky 9-21, 21-14, 21-14, ending a 3-year title drought. In the men’s doubles final, Russia’s Sozonov and Ivanov saw off Polish top seeds for the last final of the day.

Final results:

XD: Fuchs/Michels (GER) beat Triyachart/Yao (SIN) 21-18, 21-14
WS: Olga Konon (GER) beat Susan Egelstaff (SCO) 21-9, 21-10
WD: Yao/Sari (SIN) beat Michels/Marinello (GER) 21-18, 17-21, 21-15
MS: Brice Leverdez (FRA) beat Dmytro Zavadsky (UKR) 9-21, 21-14, 21-14
MD: Ivanov/Sozonov (RUS) beat Cwalina/Logosz (POL) 19-21, 21-19, 21-16

Click here for complete results