Europe win 2006 MVP Cup
Author: Badminton England
Date: 18 Jul 2006
Category: General News
EUROPE completed a stunning fightback to beat Asia 10-8 and capture the
$100,000 MVP Cup in Manila, Philippines.
The Asians won five of the nine matches over the three days but Europe
pulled back from 3-0 down after day one and 5-4 down on day two to take the cup
off Asia because their two victories on day two were worth two points each
and the two on the final day were worth three points apiece.
The fightback was sparked yesterday by a priceless win by England's
European champions Gail Emms (Herts) and Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) in
the women's doubles.
Today, with a win worth three points, Europe took the mixed
doubles through Denmark's European champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla
Juhl and the women's singles from Chinese-born former European champion Yao Jie
of Holland to lift the cup 10 points to eight.
DAY TWO
GAIL EMMS and Donna Kellogg overwhelmed Saralee and Sathinee of Thailand
to help Europe fight back on day two of the $1000,000 MVP Cup in Manila today.
The European champions won 21-8 21-15 as Europe cut Asia's first-day 3-0
lead to 5-4 by the end of day two. With three points for a win on Sunday's
final day, Europe are still in the hunt to take the Cup off Asia in the second
year of the contest.
Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen beat world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat
in a close three setter to double Europe's points tally.
DAY ONE
On day one England's Robert Blair was in action but he and Poland's
Robert Mateusiak could not get the better of Malaysia's Choong Tan Fook and Lee
Wan Wah in two tight games.
Results
Day One (Friday)
Asia lead Europe 3-0 (one point for a win)
Men's singles: Lin Dan (China) bt Niels Christian Kaldau (Denmark) 19-21
21-14 21-10
Women's singles: Zhang Ning (China) bt Yao Jie (Netherlands) 21-17 21-19
Men's doubles: Lee Wan Wah & Choong Tan Fook (Malaysia) bt Robert Blair
(England) & Robert Mateusiak (Poland) 23-21 21-18.
Day Two (Saturday):
Asia lead Europe 5-4 (two points for a win)
Women's singles: Wang Chen
(Hong Kong) bt Mia Audina (Neths) 13-21 21-14 21-12
Men's singles: Taufik
Hidayat (Indonesia) lost to Kenneth Jonassen (Denmark) 21-17 17-21 21-12
Women's doubles: Saralee
Thounthongkam & Sathinee Chankrachangwong (Thailand) lost to Gail Emms
& Donna Kellogg (England) 21-8 21-15.
DAY THREE (Sunday):
Mixed doubles: Thomas
Laybourn & Kamilla Juhl (Den) bt Kennevic & Kennie Asuncion
(Philippines) 22-24 21-17 21-18
Women's singles: Yao Jie (Neths)
bt Zhang Ning (China) 21-19 18-21 21-11
Men's singles: Kenneth Jonassen
(Den) lost to Lin Dan (China) 21-13 14-21 21-14
Europe win 10-8
