PORTUGAL INT’L 2011 – Maiden title for French Malaysian

Miles away from New Delhi where Lee Chong Wei was receiving another Super Series gold medal, French adopted Malaysian-born Sashina Vignes Waran from Strasbourg scooped her maiden title in Carlos Da Rainha, Portugal, for the 46th Portuguese International on Sunday. The 21-year-old Vignes Waran – who moved to France when she was 13 – beat back to back Anu Nieminen in the semi-final and Atu Rosalina – an Indonesian player living in France as well – in straight games to clinch the title of this International Series tournament.

“I hope this will make a change for me in the future and I really think all the ones who have been very supportive for the past few years” said a delighted Sashina.

In spite of flying French colours in international tournaments for some time (she was recently crowned European University champion)  and being the 2nd best player after Pi Hongyan, the shuttler is yet to receive a French passport as her request is still pending with French administration.  With this victory and the 2500 points earned on Sunday, she should break into the top 60.

All finals in the Portuguese Internationals were affairs between compatriots, with English scooping both the mixed and women’s doubles, Denmark wining the men’s doubles in the name of Nohr/Pedersen and Germany winning the men’s singles event with Sven Eric Kastens on the top step of the podium.

Final Results :

MS : Sven Eric Kastens (GER) beat Lukas Schmidt (GER) : 15-21, 21-18, 21-11
WS: Sashina Vignes (FRA-MAL) beat Atu Rosalina (FRA-INA):  21-11 – 21-15
MD: Pedersen/Nohr (DEN) beat Bue/Skaarup Rasmussen(DEN) : 28-26, 16-21, 21-17
WD: Langley/Smith (ENG) beat Davies/Lim (ENG): 14-21, 21-14, 21-17
XD: Middleton/Langley (ENG) beat Stawski/Smith (ENG): 25-23, 21-19

All results HERE