The Danish women’s team is ready to defend their gold medals in Kazan on Sunday.

Mia Blichfeldt came out strong in the first women’s singles taking the lead against Evgeniya Kosetskaya. After the interval the game got close, and after missing the first game point the Russian won the first game 22-20

In the second game Blichfeldt gained control winning 21-15, but in the third game the momentum changed. The two players met twice before with one win each, and after the third match-up between the two Kosetskaya leads the head-to-head.

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The Russian won the third game 21-9. 1-0 for Russia against the favourite from Denmark.

Victory for Rytter Juhl and Pedersen
A safe card to play for the Danish team during a European Team Event is the current World number three, Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the women’s doubles. And the European Champions did not struggle in the match-up against Olga Morozova and Anastasia Chervyakova winning 21-12 21-19.

- It was a little tricky in the beginning. I think we play with another speed of shuttle today, so the game was a little slower today, Kamilla Rytter Juhl says.

- We are a little upset, because we really feel, we could have won that second game, Morozova says.

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Women’s doubles match winners
In the second women’s singles Line Kjærsfeldt won in straight games against Natalia Perminova 21-14 22-20 and that gave the women’s double Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen the option to secure the spot in the final for Denmark.

And the young doubles became match winners for Denmark. Thygesen and Fruergaard beat Bolotova and Davletova in straight games 21-17 21-10.

Denmark will play either Spain or Germany in the final on Sunday.

See all the results from 2018 European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships here