The home fans were left disappointed in the women’s singles event. Their Dutch player Mia Audina started well winning the first game 21/15, but at the end of a long rally to secure the first game Audina was noticed to be concerned about her heavily bandaged left leg. Audina’s opponent in the final, Xu Huaiwen of Germany did not look too troubled after losing the first game, and raced to an early lead in the second. She held onto this lead and extended it to level the final at one game all. In the deciding game the short German shuttler seemed to have the competitive edge and won 21/16 to win the gold medal. This delighted the German coaches but upset the loud home supporters.
Denmark dominated two more finals with their players on both sides of the net. The men’s doubles and mixed doubles finals also both featured Jens Eriksen. In the men’s doubles event, Eriksen used his and doubles partner Martin Lundgaard’s experience to control the match against their younger compatriots Carsten Mogensen and Mathias Boe. Mogensen and Boe looked frustrated at many moments and could not believe how many times the shuttle landed on the wrong side of the back line. Eriksen and Lundgaard looked cool and composed throughout and won 21/15, 21/17, thereby defending the title they have now won three times in succession.
Eriksen was unable to achieve the double though as he and mixed partner Mette Schjoldager lost to Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl. Laybourn and Juhl came from behind to clinch the first game 22/20. This gave them confidence in the second game to secure the match and their first European Championships title.
England was able to celebrate in the women’s doubles event. Gail Emms entered the tournament as top seed in two events, but following the surprise early defeat in the mixed doubles event, she was then able to focus solely on the women’s doubles. Emms and Donna Kellogg had already played their opponents in the final in Den Bosch this week, Germany’s Juliane Schenk and Nicole Grether, during the Team Competition. That time it was to decide which country would win the team bronze medal. Emms and Kellogg were able to get a second win over the German’s, this time to win gold.
Here is a summary of the results from the five finals –
Men’s singles: Peter Gade (Denmark) beat Kenneth Jonassen (Denmark) 21/19, 21/18
Women’s singles: Xu Huaiwen (Germany) beat Mia Audina (Netherlands) 15/21, 21/9, 21/16
Men’s doubles: Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard (Denmark) beat Carsten Mogensen and Mathias Boe (Denmark) 21/15, 21/17
Women’s doubles: Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg (England) beat Juliane Schenk and Nicole Grether (Germany) 21/12, 21/10
Mixed doubles: Thomas Laybourn and Kamila Juhl (Denmark) beat Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager (Denmark) 22/20, 21/15
To view all of the results from the 2006 European Championships held in Den Bosch, Netherlands – click here
Peter Gade defeated his Danish compatriot Kenneth Jonassen to win his fourth gold medal in the men’s singles event at the European Championships. Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard were also able to defend their title and win gold in the men’s doubles event. Germany’s Xu Huaiwen won the women’s singles gold medal with a win over Mia Audina of the Netherlands.