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.