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maj 14, 2023 15:31
The Danish Sudirman Cup team took a big step towards the quarter-finals, which can be played on Tuesday against Egypt.
Denmark could hardly wish for a better start at this year’s Sudirman Cup – WC for mixed teams. In Sunday’s group match against Singapore, Denmark won 4-1.
Read also: Find out more about the 13 Danish Sudirman Cup profiles
The team match was defined as a key match for both nations, as it may well prove decisive in terms of securing a quarter-final place. Denmark is now in the best position to do so. The place can be secured on Tuesday if Denmark beats Egypt and China wins over Singapore.
– It was really important. It was a must-win game if we are to have any hopes of having a good campaign, so I am really proud of the players and the way they managed to deliver this victory, says Denmark’s head coach Kenneth Jonassen.
Despite the convincing 4-1 victory against Singapore, it was not entirely without problems that the victories came at home. It was particularly close in the mixed doubles and men’s singles.
– It lies and tilts all the time. It takes so little for things to go our way, and I feel that it does today, because we are brave, move the balls and keep going when we have a hold of our opponent and don’t let go of them, Jonassen points out.
Click here to secure a ticket for the WC 2023 in the Royal Arena on 21-27 August
Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje vs Hee Yong Kai Terry/Tan Wei Han Jessica: 21-19, 21-18
Denmark made it 1-0 in the team match when Bøje and Christiansen won a close match against a mischievous pair from Singapore. The first set was decided on margins, as the two pairs followed each other until 19-19, but where Bøje and Christiansen were cynical and took advantage of the first set point.
In the second set, the Singaporean pair built up a big lead of 15-9, and at the time there were many indications that the match would be decided in three sets. But Bøje and Christiansen did not give up and put together an impressive run of nine points in a row, which Hee and Tan did not come back from. In 39 minutes, the Danes, who are ranked 18th in the world, had grabbed their fifth win in five matches without dropping a set against Hee and Tan.
Viktor Axelsen vs Loh Kean Yew: 21-23, 21-13, 21-16
A treat of a match awaited afterwards between the world number one and four. And at the same time a meeting between the last two world champions. For Sunday’s game, the tactics were clear from Loh. He wanted to stress Axelsen with flat, fast play and take the initiative in the front part of the track. Although Axelsen came through well with his attack and played his way to five set points in the first set, it was Loh who grabbed the set after sharp rallies and good net play.
After the change of sides, 29-year-old Axelsen changed tactics. He used Loh’s own tactics and it developed into a nerve-wracking battle at the net. The match continued in the third set, where 25-year-old Loh had the best start and led at the break. Axelsen worked his way back into the set nicely and took advantage of his first match point after 59 minutes of play.
Read also: Injuries prevent Antonsen and Søgaard from participating in the Sudirman Cup
Mia Blichfeldt vs Yeo Jian Min: 21-10, 21-15
With a Danish lead of 2-0, the pressure was on Yeo Jia Min for the women’s singles match. This was exploited by 25-year-old Mia Blichfeldt, who delivered an extremely concentrated effort at a high pace with very few mistakes. This meant that 24-year-old Yeo Jia Min found it difficult to get the initiative in the match. Blichfeldt put an end to a great match when she smashed down the match ball after 36 minutes. The outcome of the match also meant that Denmark had already secured the overall victory in the team match before the last two matches.
Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup vs Jun Liang Andy Kwek/Loh Kean Hean: 21-13, 21-5
A look at the ranking showed a big difference between the world’s number eight, Astrup and Skaarup, and their opponent Jun and Loh, the world’s number 87. It was also noticeable when the players met each other for the first time on the court. Admittedly, the Singaporean men’s doubles trailed well to 7-8 in the first set, but from there they seemed to be broken. Not just in the set but in the whole match. The second set was a humiliation for Loh and Jun, who won just five duels.
Read also: BWF bans new serve invented by a Dane
Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen vs Jin Yu Jia/Wong Jia Ying Crystal: 18-21, 18-21
The women’s doubles match was, on paper, more equal between the 18th and 20th in the world. It was the latter who showed the most sharpness throughout the match. On the other hand, there were several unprovoked mistakes from Fruergaard and Thygesen, who had otherwise shown great play when the trophy at the EC for mixed teams was secured in February. But on Sunday, it was deserved that the Singaporean pair won in the first meeting between the two pairs.
Fact:
Sudirman Cup 2023 will be played in China on 14-21 May at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre. It is only 50 km from the Kunshan Sports Centre, where the Danish men’s national team won the Thomas Cup in 2016.
Denmark last won a Sudirman Cup medal in 2013. Here it was bronze after a semi-final defeat to China 1-3. Denmark has never won the Sudirman Cup.
The four groups for Sudirman Cup 2023:
Group A: China, DenmarkSingapore, Egypt
Group B: Indonesia, Thailand, Germany, Canada
Group C: Malaysia, Taiwan, India, Australia
Group D: Japan, Korea, France, England
It will be the first time ever at a Sudirman Cup that Denmark meets Egypt. It will also be only the second time that the Danes will face Singapore at the WC for mixed teams. The only match between them dates back to 2013, when Denmark won 4-1.
Conversely, Denmark have faced China eight times and have never managed to beat the winningest Sudirman Cup nation.
Click here to see Denmark’s previous results at the Sudirman Cup
Denmark’s game plan at Sudirman Cup 2023:
Sunday 14 May at 11.00 Danish time: Denmark-Singapore
Tuesday 16 May at 11.00 Danish time: Denmark-Egypt
Thursday 18 May at 11.00 Danish time: Denmark-China
Tags: Alexandra Bøje, Anders Skaarup, Kenneth Jonassen, Kim Astrup, Maiken Fruergaard, Mathias Christiansen, Mia Blichfeldt, Sara Thygesen, Viktor Axelsen
Category: Elite, Front page, National team, Medal, News
2023-05-15 01:57:13
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