Duinwijck Claims Dutch Badminton Title in Thrilling Final Against Almere
ALMERE, Netherlands – In a heart-stopping finale, BC Duinwijck edged out FIT Almere to secure the Dutch national badminton championship title on Sunday. Despite a spirited comeback from Almere, who forced a decisive golden game after trailing 2-4, Duinwijck ultimately prevailed, claiming their 29th national title – second only to Ajax in the total number of Dutch national championships across all sports.
The match, played in front of a vocal home crowd, saw dramatic swings in momentum, culminating in a tense golden game decided in the women’s doubles. Alex Vlaar and Alida Chen played a pivotal role in extending the match for Almere, overcoming a significant deficit to secure a crucial win in the mixed doubles.
A Battle in the Doubles
The men’s doubles match saw Alex Vlaar and Dyon van Wijlick face off against the formidable pairing of Ties van der Lecq and Brian Wassink. Vlaar and van Wijlick started strong, quickly taking the first game 21-11. The second game was a much closer affair, with both teams trading points, but Duinwijck ultimately prevailed 20-22. The deciding game saw Duinwijck gain an early advantage, securing a 15-21 victory and the first point of the match.
In the women’s doubles, Kirsten de Wit, partnered with coach Cheryl Seinen in a surprising move, battled Alyssa Tirtosentono and Meerte Loos. Similar to the men’s doubles, this match went to three games. Almere took the first game 21-17, but Duinwijck responded with a dominant 12-21 win in the second. The third game was fiercely contested, with Kirsten de Wit and Cheryl Seinen ultimately securing a 21-18 victory, keeping Almere’s hopes alive.
Mixed Success in the Singles
Noah Haase delivered a strong performance in the first men’s singles match, defeating Aram Mahmoud. Haase overcame a slow start, turning a 16-18 deficit into a 21-19 win in the first game. He continued his momentum in the second, closing out the match with a 23-21 victory, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Alida Chen faced a tough challenge against Marija Sudimac, a Serbian player brought in by Duinwijck specifically for the singles competition. Chen started well, building a comfortable lead, but ultimately lost the first game 21-23 in a tight contest. The second game saw Sudimac capture control, winning 15-21 and leveling the score at 2-2.
Duinwijck Extends Their Lead
FIT Almere opted to field Muhammad Izzuddin in the second men’s singles match against the newly crowned Dutch champion, Adith Karthikeyan Priya. Izzuddin struggled to find his rhythm, losing the first game 7-21. The second game was more competitive, but Priya ultimately prevailed 21-23 after a prolonged rally.
Diede Odijk competed against Chloë Mayer in the second women’s singles match. The two players had a history, with Mayer leading their previous encounters 3-4. Odijk took the first game 18-21, but fought back to win the second 21-17, forcing a deciding third game. However, Mayer dominated the third game, winning 9-21.
The Comeback in the Mixed Doubles
Facing a 2-4 deficit, Almere needed to win both mixed doubles matches to stay in contention. Dyon van Wijlick and Kirsten de Wit delivered a dominant performance against Brian Wassink and Meerte Loos, winning convincingly 21-10 and 21-9. This victory forced the decisive final mixed doubles match.
Alex Vlaar and Alida Chen faced Ties van der Lecq and Debora Jille in the final mixed doubles match. Almere started strongly, taking the first game 21-9. Duinwijck responded in the second, winning 15-21. The third game was a nail-biter, with Duinwijck leading 9-16 before a remarkable comeback by Vlaar and Chen, fueled by a strong service run from Vlaar, tied the score at 16-16. They ultimately won the game 23-21, forcing the golden game.
The Decisive Golden Game
After the score was leveled, the golden game was played in the women’s doubles. FIT Almere fielded Kirsten de Wit and Cheryl Seinen once again, while Duinwijck replaced Meerte Loos with Debora Jille. Debora Jille and Alyssa Tirtosentono quickly established control, ultimately winning the golden game 21-12 and securing the championship for Duinwijck.
Congratulations to BC Duinwijck on their 29th national title, a feat surpassed only by Ajax in the history of Dutch sports championships.
The next confirmed action for many of these players will be the upcoming international badminton tournaments, where they will represent the Netherlands on the world stage. Fans can follow updates and schedules on the Badminton Nederland website.
