Martin Larsen, Sandra Andersson win their first National Championship
06/03/09
Multiple World Champion Martin Larsen and 17-year-old rising star Sandra Andersson claimed the gold medals in the men's and women's division of the Swedish National Championship.
Photo courtesy Jonas Brändström.
In some European countries, it's harder to win the national championship than to earn medals with the national team. Sweden and Finland are atop of that list. And Larsen was one of the players, who could tell the story.
Until this year, the doubles and team World Champion has never made it through the qualifying round in the National Championships. When he finally decided to participate this year, due to an extremely busy schedule, it was only because he has still a chance to make enough points to win the Swedish World Cup qualification.
"After finishing second in the World Cup in Mexico last year, I really wanted another opportunity to bowl in that tournament", said Martin. He needed to finish among top 9 in the championship to secure his World Cup spot.
The four players, who advanced to finals were: Larsen, Mikael Kanold, veteran Raymond Jansson and Tobias Karlsson, a quartet with considerable international experience. In the semifinal, Larsen defeated Karlsson, two-games-to-none (246-225; 259-203), a strike fest in a relatively low-scoring tournament, and Kanold ousted Jansson, 2-1 (195-203, 226-194, 229-223).
In the title match Larsen did exactly what he needed to win his first individual national championship. He swept Kanold, 2-0, winning the games by 3 and 13 pins (184-181, 206-193).
"I am in good shape and have a lot of confidence after winning tournaments recently. It was important as the lanes became tougher during the last rounds of the finals", said Larsen, who qualified for his second consecutive QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Malaysia later this year.
The women's finals featured many of the future stars in Swedish women's bowling. 10 out of 24 finalists were under 20 years of age.
The top four consisted of World Trios Champion Malin Glendert, former national team member Ulla Nordström, 19-year-old Rebecka Larsen Jr. and 17-year-old Andersson.
In the semis, Andersson eliminated Nordström after an impressive performance, 2-0 (247-195, 224-208), and Larsen defeated Glendert, 2-0 (201-170, 224-182). In the championship match, Andersson secured the title in the deciding game, 2-1 (252-193, 160-191, 175-165).
"I was a bit nervous in the end and didn't get the same ball reaction as before," said Sandra Andersson, who has had an extremely successful year.
She won the Swedish Youth Championship, performed strongly in the European Youth Championships, and played an important role when her club Spader Dam won the National Team Championship a couple of weeks ago.
"My next big goal is the World Youth Championship in Helsinki in 2010," Andersson said.
Silver medalist Larsen cannot rest very long, as she has been selected recently for the Swedish national team, which will compete in the Women's World Championship in Las Vegas in July/August.
As Swedish bowling celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009, - the first bowling alley was opened in Stockholm on October 10, 1909 - a side tournament was contested during the National Championship.
The "100-year tournament" had an exclusive winner-takes-it-all prize of 100 000 Swedish crowns (approx. 9.500 Euro). Mats Lunderquist from Kulladals BS in Malmö walked away with the check after defeating veteran Pertti Lehto in the final, 196-190.
Courtesy of Hans Karlsson, press officer of the Swedish Bowling Federation.
Sweden
Big payday for Mats Lunderquist in "100-year tournament"
Multiple World Champion Martin Larsen and 17-year-old rising star Sandra Andersson claimed the gold medals in the men's and women's division of the Swedish National Championship.Photo courtesy Jonas Brändström.
In some European countries, it's harder to win the national championship than to earn medals with the national team. Sweden and Finland are atop of that list. And Larsen was one of the players, who could tell the story.
Until this year, the doubles and team World Champion has never made it through the qualifying round in the National Championships. When he finally decided to participate this year, due to an extremely busy schedule, it was only because he has still a chance to make enough points to win the Swedish World Cup qualification.
"After finishing second in the World Cup in Mexico last year, I really wanted another opportunity to bowl in that tournament", said Martin. He needed to finish among top 9 in the championship to secure his World Cup spot.
The four players, who advanced to finals were: Larsen, Mikael Kanold, veteran Raymond Jansson and Tobias Karlsson, a quartet with considerable international experience. In the semifinal, Larsen defeated Karlsson, two-games-to-none (246-225; 259-203), a strike fest in a relatively low-scoring tournament, and Kanold ousted Jansson, 2-1 (195-203, 226-194, 229-223).
In the title match Larsen did exactly what he needed to win his first individual national championship. He swept Kanold, 2-0, winning the games by 3 and 13 pins (184-181, 206-193).
"I am in good shape and have a lot of confidence after winning tournaments recently. It was important as the lanes became tougher during the last rounds of the finals", said Larsen, who qualified for his second consecutive QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Malaysia later this year.
The women's finals featured many of the future stars in Swedish women's bowling. 10 out of 24 finalists were under 20 years of age.
The top four consisted of World Trios Champion Malin Glendert, former national team member Ulla Nordström, 19-year-old Rebecka Larsen Jr. and 17-year-old Andersson.
In the semis, Andersson eliminated Nordström after an impressive performance, 2-0 (247-195, 224-208), and Larsen defeated Glendert, 2-0 (201-170, 224-182). In the championship match, Andersson secured the title in the deciding game, 2-1 (252-193, 160-191, 175-165).
"I was a bit nervous in the end and didn't get the same ball reaction as before," said Sandra Andersson, who has had an extremely successful year.
She won the Swedish Youth Championship, performed strongly in the European Youth Championships, and played an important role when her club Spader Dam won the National Team Championship a couple of weeks ago.
"My next big goal is the World Youth Championship in Helsinki in 2010," Andersson said.
Silver medalist Larsen cannot rest very long, as she has been selected recently for the Swedish national team, which will compete in the Women's World Championship in Las Vegas in July/August.
As Swedish bowling celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009, - the first bowling alley was opened in Stockholm on October 10, 1909 - a side tournament was contested during the National Championship.
The "100-year tournament" had an exclusive winner-takes-it-all prize of 100 000 Swedish crowns (approx. 9.500 Euro). Mats Lunderquist from Kulladals BS in Malmö walked away with the check after defeating veteran Pertti Lehto in the final, 196-190.
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Courtesy of Hans Karlsson, press officer of the Swedish Bowling Federation.
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