Anders Antonsen Advances to Quarter-Finals After Confident Victory at the Olympics

The Danish badminton player Anders Antonsen is through to the knockout phase at the Olympics.

On Wednesday afternoon, he won his second and final group match quite confidently over Ade Resky Dwicahyo from Azerbaijan 21-10, 21-14.

Like Viktor Axelsen, Antonsen advances from one of the groups where victory triggers a direct place in the quarter-finals rather than the round of 16.

Antonsen will face the winner of the round of 16 final between the Malaysian Lee Zii Jia and the Frenchman Toma Junior Popov. The latter has surprisingly knocked out defending Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Ginting.

The Aarhusian badminton star was in control from the start in her decisive group match. Antonsen won the first five points before Dwicahyo got on the board.

Then Dwicahyo was reduced to 5-6, before Antonsen again came up trumps and got to 14-5. Soon after, the set was safely delivered.

From the start of the second set, the world number 57 looked a bit more resilient, but as the set progressed there was no doubt that Antonsen, the world number three, would also win the second set without being pressured.

In a few seconds, the Dane won the last three points of the match, and there were no notable scenes of jubilation after the expected victory.

After the match, the Dane reports that his biggest challenge was being able to concentrate in a hall where most of the spectators were getting excited about a match on a court next door.

– I lost a bit of focus in the second set. There was a lot of noise next to where the Frenchman was playing, and also I got a small hole in my shoe, which stole a bit of my focus.

– But I generally had a good feeling and feel to a greater degree that I am really getting started with the tournament than after the first match.

– I am highly motivated ahead of the quarter-finals, promises Antonsen.

2024-07-31 19:44:15
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