NORWEGIAN INT'L – Vittinghus Ends Year on a High!!

Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (pictured) of Denmark ended his tournament year with a victory over recent Denmark Open Super Series finalist Marc Zwiebler at the Norwegian Int. The victory is sure to put a smile on the face of the Dane as he now heads into a month of intensive training ahead of a tough tournament schedule in the New Year. In all it was a good day for Denmark with three golds with victory in the women’s and men’s doubles to complement the win of Vittinghus.

By Mark Phelan. Photos: badmintonphoto.com (archive)

Vittinghus, fresh from his match at the French Super Series where he gained many fans in his narrow second round defeat to Lin Dan, came back from a set down to beat Marc Zwiebler of Germany to claim the Norwegian International to add to the Spanish Open he won earlier in the year. Vittinghus lost the opener 21-15 but a new found determination and belief saw the Dane come back to take the second 21-18 and close out the match 21-19.

The Dane, who some might say lives in the shadow of his more illustrious men singles compatriots, has proven that Denmark now has players with the potential to take over from the great Peter Gade and with this his second win of the year is now surely ready to catapult himself into the upper echelons of men’s singles badminton as his good friend Jan O Jorgensen has done this past year.

"I'm just extremely happy to have won another title this year. Its been a good year for me and this is just a perfect way to finish it. Now I go into a long period of training with great motivation and I know I'm moving in the right direction," said a happy Vittinghus after his victory.

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It was a bumper day for Denmark all round as their women’s doubles pairing of Ropke and Neilsen (pictured) found the form that has eluded them this past month to live up to their number 1 seeding with a 2 set win over young Dutch pair Samantha Barning and Eefje Muskens.

Bonde and Mollyhus rounded off the Danish hat trick with a tough 3 set victory over the experienced German pair of Hopp and Schoettler but there was some joy for Germany and Juliane Schenk re-captured the form that eluded her at the Denmark and French Opens to bounce back to take the Norwegian International with another 3 set win over Rachel Van Cutsen.

In the all-English mixed doubles final, Marcus Ellis and Heather Olver prevailed in 2 sets over number one seeded pair Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou.

For all results click HERE

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