Carolina Marin clinches historic fifth-consecutive European title

Carolina Marin clinched her fifth-consecutive continental badminton title with victory at the 2021 European Championships in Kyiv on Sunday (2nd May).

The Spaniard becomes the first player in the history of the tournament to have won it five times in a row.

On a day where Covid-19 had disrupted two of the five finals originally planned, Marin looked in a hurry to wrap things up.

The reigning Olympic champion easily took the first game of the final against Line Christophersen, who never really looked like she had settled into a rhythm on court.

The Dane fared slightly better in the second game, drawing level at 12-12, however the Marin switch up a gear an pulled away to claim the second game and clinch the European championship crown, winning 21-13, 21-18 in 37 minutes.

The Spaniard shared that she felt happier on court today compared to yesterday when she was "a bit frustrated" with her game. The 27-year-old added, "but today I feel a bit happier because I feel we improved my game a lot, as well as what I have to concentrate on."

It was certainly apparent on court where she remained in complete control throughout the match, and as a result, she confessed to feeling "more happy with myself."

Marin has set the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 as her main target for the year, where she will look to defend the women's singles crown won in Rio 2016.

Denmark's men's singles player Peter Gade is the only other person to have managed five European titles, but his were accumulated over seven editions of the championships.

Gade's fellow countryman Viktor Axelsen tested positive for Covid ahead of the men's final earlier on Sunday to hand Antonsen the European title.

Mixed doubles Russian pair claim maiden gold medal

Sixth seeds Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova from Russia upset top seeds Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith of England to clinch the mixed doubles title.

It is the first time a pair from Russia has won gold in this discipline.

Alimov and Davletova had to claw their way back into the match after losing the first game. The won the second to force a decider and managed to convert that opportunity into their maiden European Championship title, winning 11-21, 21-16, 21-15.

Stoeva sisters retain doubles crown

Reigning champions and top seeds, the Stoeva sisters, Stefani and Gabriela, successfully defended their women's doubles title.

The Bulgarians needed only two games to clinch the title, defeating second seeds Lauren Smith and Chloe Birch 21-14, 21-19.

It was Smith's second shot at a championship crown at the Europeans, after coming up short in the mixed doubles. The English pair got the better start over their opponents, opening up a five point advantage in the first game, however once the Stoeva sisters got warmed up, they regained control of the math and took the first game.

The second game proved to be a much closer affair with neither pair able to pull out more than a three point advantage. The sisters were able to just edge out their rivals to defend their title, winning in straight sets.