Denmark welcomed a new king around New Year’s and yesterday Danish table tennis crowned a new king as well as 23-year-old Martin BUCH ANDERSEN clinched the Danish championship title in men’s singles for the first time. It marked his inaugural final and medal in men’s singles having previously faced three quarterfinal defeats.
In the final he defeated Tobias RASMUSSEN 4-2.
Both finalists encountered significant challenges in the semifinals where they narrowly escaped match points. Martin BUCH overcame Allan BENTSEN 11-8 8-11 11-7 10-12 6-11 13-11 11-8 after BENTSEN had a match point in the sixth game. Tobias RASMUSSEN survived a match point when the score was 9-10 in the seventh game. In the ensuing rally he faced defensive troubles but managed to secure victory with a fortunate edge ball winning 12-10 in the seventh game 6-11 14-12 7-11 7-11 11-6 11-7 12-10.
20-year-old Jocefina HAAGENSEN clinched the women’s singles title for the third consecutive time. In the final she triumphed 4-3 against former Croatian champion Eldijana BENTSEN marking BENTSEN’S debut individual Danish championship. BENTSEN acquired Danish citizenship just five days before the registration deadline for the championships.
In mixed doubles she secured the title alongside her husband Allan BENTSEN who claimed his record-breaking 59th Danish championship.
The men’s singles finalists Tobias RASMUSSEN and Martin BUCH ANDERSEN teamed up in men’s doubles and secured victory for the second consecutive time. In women’s doubles Pernille Refstrup AGERHOLM and Izabell NØRLEM emerged victorious.
A total of 72 players participated in the 82nd Danish championships. Notably Carsten EGEHOLT participated for the 45th consecutive time while Mogens SONNICHSEN marked his 43rd consecutive appearance.
Final Results:
Men’s Singles: Martin Buch Andersen (Virum) vs. Tobias Rasmussen (Hvidovre) 11-5 15-17 11-8 8-11 11-6 11-9
Women’s Singles: Jocefina Haagensen (Hvidovre) vs. Eldijana Bentsen (Roskilde) 11-9 4-11 12-10 4-11 10-12 11-8 11-7
Men’s Doubles: Tobias Rasmussen/Martin Buch Andersen (Virum) vs. Oliver Skouboe Berntsen/Johan Engberg Havsteen (Hvidovre/Amager) 11-8 10-12 11-2 11-9
Women’s Doubles: Pernille Refstrup Agerholm/Izabell Nørlem (Viby/Sisu-MBK) vs. Pia Toelhøj (Hillerød) and Mille Lyngså Stoffregen (Silkeborg) 11-5 7-11 6-11 11-8 11-6
Mixed Doubles: Eldijana Bentsen/Allan Bentsen (Roskilde) vs. Izabel Nørlem/Carsten Egeholt (Sisu/MBK/B75) 11-9 11-9 11-8
