Denmark loses semi-final – must settle for bronze | BT Badminton

Anders Antonsen’s defeat in the second men’s singles stunned Denmark, who must settle for bronze after a defeat of 1-3.

It was the Danish singles who had to carry the heaviest load in the Thomas Cup semi-final against Indonesia, but a tired Anders Antonsen was defeated, and then Denmark had to see themselves beaten 1-3 in the team match.

Thus, Denmark must settle for bronze, while the two most winning nations in the tournament’s history, China and Indonesia, play for gold on Sunday in Aarhus.

With the prospect of two very difficult doubles, it was important that Viktor Axelsen gave the Danes a good start in the first single.

Even though the opponent was Anthony Ginting, world number five, the match was just as exciting as Axelsen’s previous matches in the tournament.

No one can match the Olympic gold medalist at the moment, and at times you almost felt sorry for the small Indonesian, who was costly around the field and lost 9-21, 15-21.

Axelsen himself was also well satisfied with his own efforts.

– I played almost flawlessly and with good variation, stood well on the field, and it allowed me to play that way in there today. Ginting did what he could, but I think he got a little frustrated when most of it came back, says Axelsen.

Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup played an excellent second set against the world’s strongest double for several years, Kevin Sukamuljo and Marcus Gideon.

It did not turn out to be a surprising Danish victory in three sets, but the Indonesians were shown that they would not come for free to any victories in the team match.

Denmark did not do that either, and the Danish chances of victory came under tremendous pressure when Anders Antonsen lost a grueling nail-biter to Jonatan Christie.

The Dane otherwise survived a couple of set balls in the first set, but also abused a couple himself and lost 23-25. He came again and took another 21-15, but the Dane’s tank ran on the reserves.

On the eve of cramping, Antonsen lost the third set 16-21 and even had to drop the meeting with the press right after due to incipient cramping in a pair of completely exhausted legs.

Instead of having to play for the victory, as was the case in the quarterfinals, the men’s doubles with Mathias Christiansen and Frederik Søgaard should instead play to keep Denmark in the game.

Together with the second double, it was on paper the most difficult match for the Danes. The opponents, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, are number seven in the world, while the two Danes do not usually play together.

It required a minor miracle to force the team match into a fifth and decisive match with the responsibility in the hands of experienced Hans-Kristian Vittinghus.

And unfortunately for the Danes, the time of miracles was over. Søgaard and Christiansen could not stand up to the strong Indonesians, who took the victory with 21-14, 21-14.

/ ritzau /