I’m just back after winning my opening game in the first round of the European Championships. I won in two sets 21-6 21-16. The first set was very uneventful. I went 8-0 up and never really looked back from there. At 8-1 I put together another streak of 5 points without reply. At 18-6 I again I put together a three point run to win the set.
The second set was a bit tighter and we were level at 5-5. I opened up a 14-8 lead and just lost a bit of concentration and let my opponent back into the game as he closed the gap to 14-13. I re focused and ended up pulling away again to win 21-16.
All in all it was a comfortable win and I was always in control I enjoyed the match. It is always good to get the opening match out of the way in any tournament. Tomorrow I play Sven Eric Kastens of Germany. He is ranked 126 in the world but I have never played him before. I’m really looking forward to the challenge as it’s always interesting to play new players.
That’s it for now. I’m off now to get some food and relax for the evening. I will pop in to say hello tomorrow and report on my game.
All the best
Scott
Welcome to the blog of Scott Evans
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
A Deserved Win
Hi All,
After three days of competition and a weeks hard training in Denmark the Irish team finally got the win we deserved in the European Mixed Team Championships. In our final match against Estonia we got off to the worst possible start when Chloe lost to Helen Reino 21-15 21-19 and I then lost to Raul Must 21-17 21-15. In the second set we were tied at 15-15 but he rolled of 6 straight points to take the match. That left us with a massive uphill battle to try and even just get back into the game.
In the men’s doubles Matthew and Sam played an excellent match and were never really troubled in a 21-12 21-13 win. Like the men’s doubles before Sinead and Donna were excellent and won in 2 sets. The first by 21-12 and their opponents retired in the second set. The scores were now tied at 2 each and all hinged on the last match. This was now an opportunity for Chloe and me to undo the damage of loosing our opening singles as we were to play together in the final mixed doubles. We lost the opening set 23-21 after trading point for point with our opponents. We seemed top find a grove then in the second set but at 16-16 the match could have gone either way. We rattled off 4 straight points to take a 20-16 lead and eventually won the second set 21-18. The match now hung on the last set of the last game and Chloe and I were determined to close this one out. At 5-4 up we won 9 points without reply and though the Estonian pair did their best to rally we matched them shot for shot and took the set 21-14. This gave us the win over two of Europe’s in form players in Kati Tolmoff and Raul Must but more importantly it gave us our first team win at these European Championships.
Well done to all the team and hopefully we can continue to build on this tournament as we move to the future. Tomorrow I start my individual competition and luckily I have a days rest as my game is not until late in the evening.
After three days of competition and a weeks hard training in Denmark the Irish team finally got the win we deserved in the European Mixed Team Championships. In our final match against Estonia we got off to the worst possible start when Chloe lost to Helen Reino 21-15 21-19 and I then lost to Raul Must 21-17 21-15. In the second set we were tied at 15-15 but he rolled of 6 straight points to take the match. That left us with a massive uphill battle to try and even just get back into the game.
In the men’s doubles Matthew and Sam played an excellent match and were never really troubled in a 21-12 21-13 win. Like the men’s doubles before Sinead and Donna were excellent and won in 2 sets. The first by 21-12 and their opponents retired in the second set. The scores were now tied at 2 each and all hinged on the last match. This was now an opportunity for Chloe and me to undo the damage of loosing our opening singles as we were to play together in the final mixed doubles. We lost the opening set 23-21 after trading point for point with our opponents. We seemed top find a grove then in the second set but at 16-16 the match could have gone either way. We rattled off 4 straight points to take a 20-16 lead and eventually won the second set 21-18. The match now hung on the last set of the last game and Chloe and I were determined to close this one out. At 5-4 up we won 9 points without reply and though the Estonian pair did their best to rally we matched them shot for shot and took the set 21-14. This gave us the win over two of Europe’s in form players in Kati Tolmoff and Raul Must but more importantly it gave us our first team win at these European Championships.
Well done to all the team and hopefully we can continue to build on this tournament as we move to the future. Tomorrow I start my individual competition and luckily I have a days rest as my game is not until late in the evening.
Euro Update
Hello Everyone,
Well the opening round robin stage of the Europeans is over and unfortunately we did not make it through our tough group. We were beaten by The Netherlands, Sweden and Ukraine on Saturday and Sunday. This now means we go into the pot today against Finland, Iceland and Estonia in the playoff for 13 to 16 place.
There were some good performances by our young team and personally I feel my own game has improved and I’m pretty happy the way my own matches went in the round robin stages. The opening match against The Netherlands was always going to be a big ask for or you team and I played Dicky Palyama the world number 36 and lost out in three close sets. In our second game against Sweden I beat Magnus Sahlberg in my singles and had an added bonus when I won my men’s doubles with Sam Magee. In our third group game against Ukraine I had probably my most convincing win over Vladislav Druzchenko who has been performing well on the European Tour this year. I beat him in two straight sets 21-16 21-19.
Next for me now is the singles event which starts on Tuesday. Here’s hoping I take some of this form through to the individual event where I’m seeded to get through to the quarter finals. Many thanks to badmintonphoto.com for the photos above.
All the Best
Scott
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Just about to leave for Herning
Hi,
This week I have had the opportunity to train with the Irish Squad at my club in Gentofte. Everything has been going well so far and everyone is certainly benefiting from the intense sessions. Erin Keery could not travel to Denmark due to injury so Donna Scott has travelled in her place. We leave for Herning in 10 minutes time and tomorrow we will play a friendly against some Danes before taking to the court on Saturday for the first games in the Euro’s.
The day before yesterday I also had the opportunity to train and play with my good friends HK Vittinghus and Jan O Jorgensen. Both these players are in really good form at the moment after performing really well at the recent Finnish Internationals in Helsinki. Unfortunately after winning the opening sets in each match I lost the following two but I feel I’m really getting back to a consistent high level of form now and I’m really pleased with the way my training and preparations have been going.
That’s all for now everyone. I will try and keep you posted through the blog and website over the course of the European Championships.
Talk Soon
Scott
This week I have had the opportunity to train with the Irish Squad at my club in Gentofte. Everything has been going well so far and everyone is certainly benefiting from the intense sessions. Erin Keery could not travel to Denmark due to injury so Donna Scott has travelled in her place. We leave for Herning in 10 minutes time and tomorrow we will play a friendly against some Danes before taking to the court on Saturday for the first games in the Euro’s.
The day before yesterday I also had the opportunity to train and play with my good friends HK Vittinghus and Jan O Jorgensen. Both these players are in really good form at the moment after performing really well at the recent Finnish Internationals in Helsinki. Unfortunately after winning the opening sets in each match I lost the following two but I feel I’m really getting back to a consistent high level of form now and I’m really pleased with the way my training and preparations have been going.
That’s all for now everyone. I will try and keep you posted through the blog and website over the course of the European Championships.
Talk Soon
Scott
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Irish Invasion
Hello Everyone,
This week the whole Irish team are over for an intensive week of training prior to the European Championships. We will all train together at my club Gentofte under the watchful eye of Jim Laugesen.
I’m sure everyone will benefit from the week here and hopefully we can all bring what we learn onto the court next week in Herning.
Once again thanks to everyone who worked to make this happen as this can only be good for Irish badminton as a whole.
Talk Soon
Scott
This week the whole Irish team are over for an intensive week of training prior to the European Championships. We will all train together at my club Gentofte under the watchful eye of Jim Laugesen.
I’m sure everyone will benefit from the week here and hopefully we can all bring what we learn onto the court next week in Herning.
Once again thanks to everyone who worked to make this happen as this can only be good for Irish badminton as a whole.
Talk Soon
Scott
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Euro Draw
Hi All,
I have just received details of the draw for the Men’s singles for next weeks Europeans. I have got a very favourable draw where I play Blagovest Kisyov of Bulgaria in the first round. He is currently ranked 241 in the world.
If I come through that I will play the winner of Sven Eric Kastens of Germany (WR 125) and Koen Ridder (WR 151) of The Netherlands. I have Beaten Ridder on a few occasions and know his game. He is predominantly a men’s doubles player so I’m confident I can combat his style if it came to that. If I did make the ¼ finals I would most likely play Andrew Smith from England. Although he is ranked above me in the world rankings he has been on a bad run of form so again I have nothing to fear if I ended up playing him.
Obviously I’m not looking beyond my first game but I feel in really great form now so I’m looking forward to getting onto that court and doing a job for myself, my family and Ireland. I can’t wait. I have never been fitter and I feel I can now stay the pace in a close game.
That’s all for now folks. Keep visiting and thanks for your support.
Scott
I have just received details of the draw for the Men’s singles for next weeks Europeans. I have got a very favourable draw where I play Blagovest Kisyov of Bulgaria in the first round. He is currently ranked 241 in the world.
If I come through that I will play the winner of Sven Eric Kastens of Germany (WR 125) and Koen Ridder (WR 151) of The Netherlands. I have Beaten Ridder on a few occasions and know his game. He is predominantly a men’s doubles player so I’m confident I can combat his style if it came to that. If I did make the ¼ finals I would most likely play Andrew Smith from England. Although he is ranked above me in the world rankings he has been on a bad run of form so again I have nothing to fear if I ended up playing him.
Obviously I’m not looking beyond my first game but I feel in really great form now so I’m looking forward to getting onto that court and doing a job for myself, my family and Ireland. I can’t wait. I have never been fitter and I feel I can now stay the pace in a close game.
That’s all for now folks. Keep visiting and thanks for your support.
Scott
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
All Things Positive
Hi Everyone,
My apologies for not touching base lately but I have been so busy. Training has been going really well and if im honest I don’t really think I have ever trained this hard in my life. I have spent the week running and cycling. On top have that I have been following a strict weight training routine. In between I have been working really hard on my game and I really feel I’m making big strides forward now.
On a personal note my good friend Matt Gleave has now moved to Denmark to train so I’m over the moon with this. I won the men’s doubles at the Irish Nationals with Matt so I’m looking forward to training with him and just having him around.
The whole Irish team will be coming over soon to train in preparation for the European Championships. I believe this is a real positive move and applaud all concerned for their foresight in making this happen. This can only be good for Irish badminton.
Peter Gade has withdrawn from the Europeans so now I have a chance of winning it. Just have to spike Kenneth’s drink now and that will be the other tournament favourite taken care off. Only Joking!!!!
I promise I won’t leave it as long with the next site update. Thanks again for your support and keep coming back.
All the best
Scott.
My apologies for not touching base lately but I have been so busy. Training has been going really well and if im honest I don’t really think I have ever trained this hard in my life. I have spent the week running and cycling. On top have that I have been following a strict weight training routine. In between I have been working really hard on my game and I really feel I’m making big strides forward now.
On a personal note my good friend Matt Gleave has now moved to Denmark to train so I’m over the moon with this. I won the men’s doubles at the Irish Nationals with Matt so I’m looking forward to training with him and just having him around.
The whole Irish team will be coming over soon to train in preparation for the European Championships. I believe this is a real positive move and applaud all concerned for their foresight in making this happen. This can only be good for Irish badminton.
Peter Gade has withdrawn from the Europeans so now I have a chance of winning it. Just have to spike Kenneth’s drink now and that will be the other tournament favourite taken care off. Only Joking!!!!
I promise I won’t leave it as long with the next site update. Thanks again for your support and keep coming back.
All the best
Scott.
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