© Sportreport
Dream start for the ÖBV team at the home tournament for the Mixed Team European Championship qualification 2020 in the Olympic Center Upper Austria. Head coach Kent Madsen’s team defeated the higher-ranking Czechs 3-2 after 4:30 hours.
Due to the better world rankings, the team from the Czech Republic went into the match as the favorite. But the ÖBV team got off to a dream start. Philip Birker / Katharina Hochmeir celebrated a narrow 23:21, 21:19 victory against Kral / Svabikova. Vice state champion Leon Seiwald played against Milan Ludik, who was 112 places better in the world rankings, and won with 21:16, 21:17 and surprisingly brought the ÖBV team 2-0 in front.
State champion Katrin Neudolt had to give up the women’s singles against Katerina Tomalova with 0: 2 sets. Not for the faint of heart then the men’s double. After 63 minutes of play, Dominik Stipsits / Philip Birker used their 6th match point to the much-acclaimed 23:21, 24:26, 21:17 victory and gave Austria an unmatchable 3-1 lead. Katharina Hochmeir / Serena Au Yeong lost the final women’s doubles in three sets to make it 3-2.
In the opening game, the Netherlands defeated Slovakia 4-1. On Friday, December 11th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Austria will meet the Netherlands in the game that is now decisive for group victory.
Austria: Czech Republic 3-2
MX: Philip Birker / Katharina Hochmeir: Ondrej Kral / Tereza Svabikova 23:21, 21:19
HE: Leon Seiwald : Milan Ludik 21:16, 21:17
FROM: Katrin Neudolt: Katerina Tomalova 17:21, 14:21
HD: Dominik Stipsits / Philip Birker: Ondrej Kral / Jan Louda 23:21, 24:26, 21:17
DD: Serean Au Yeong / Katharina Hochmeir: Tereza Svabikova / Katerina Tomalova 17:21, 24:22, 19:21
“It wasn’t our best game, but thanks to great dedication and fighting spirit, we were able to win the game. We performed as a team and that makes me proud, ”says Kent Madsen, pleased about the successful debut with the ÖBV team.
Since no spectators are admitted to the tournament due to the valid Corona regulations, all games by Badminton Europe are played on their streaming platform (www.badmintoneurope.tv) broadcast live.
Schedule:
Friday, December 11th, 8:00 p.m. – Austria vs. Netherlands (1:00 p.m .: Czech Republic vs. Slovakia)
Saturday, Dec. 12, 8:00 p.m. – Austria versus Slovakia (11:00 a.m .: Netherlands: Czech Republic)
Press release Austrian Badminton Association (ÖBV) / red.
10.12.2020
