Mia takes European badminton title

Mia takes European badminton title

Agence France-Presse
Geneva, Switzerland

Mia Audina Tjiptawan, the former Olympic silver medalist whom
some thought might never be the same again after she married
gospel singer Tylio Tjiptawan and left Indonesia, showed she
should be a Games medal contender again by winning the European
title.

It is nearly eight years since Audina reached the Olympic
final in Atlanta, but on the evidence of her trampling 11-1, 11-0
victory in the European final over Pi Hongyan of France, she is
possibly playing even better now than then.

Later former world number one Peter Gade again suggested he is
gradually getting back to his former heights by winning the men's
singles, overcoming Kenneth Jonassen, his top-seed Danish
compatriot, 15-9, 15-10 in the final.

In the women's showdown, Audina restricted the very talented
former Chinese squad player from France to a solitary point by
producing a dazzling stream of winners with sliced drops, hairpin
net shots ad disguised smashes.

This she managed against an opponent who hopes to make a mark
herself at the Olympics.

Pi Hongyan still has not got the French passport for which she
has been wanting for many months, but she has certainly been
preparing as though she means business in Athens.

Pi produced some of the best badminton of her life to defeat
the defending European champion Yao Jie, another former Chinese
player, in the semifinals, but was never allowed a moment's
respite by Audina's varied attacking.

"Actually I think Mia played better in the semifinals (when
she beat former world and European champion Camilla Martin),"
said Dutch head coach Martijn van Dooremalen.

"She's more mature now of course and physically stronger.

"It's a very good lead up to the Olympics we are having. She's
played all the top players now and winning this title is very
good for her self-confidence."

It means not only that Audina has followed her capture of the
Japan Open in Tokyo two weeks ago with the European title from
the strongest field it has ever had, but has finished the Olympic
qualifying period certain of a seeding in a medal position.

"I am very happy. I have achieved everything I wanted so far
and know I am playing well," said the 24-year-old emigre.

In the men's showdown, Gade has taken two years to regain a
place in the world's top six after a career-threatening knee
injury and could even earn an Olympic seeding in a medal position
after proving too speedy for Jonassen.