In 2009, Kenneth Jonassen was the second best men’s singles player in Denmark. Photo: Jens Dresling / POLFOTO
The Danish badminton stars have to play the European Championships and the World Cup without their national coach, Kenneth Jonassen, who will have hip surgery for the third time after two failed operations.
It writes Badminton Denmark in a press release.
– I am of course really sorry that this time I can not participate in the European Championships in Madrid, but it hits even deeper that I unfortunately can not be part of the two national teams for the Thomas & Uber Cup and thereby the hunt for the World Cup- medals to Denmark, says Kenneth Jonassen and continues.
– For both the elite program and me personally, all the championships are highlights during our season, but this time it will be at a distance that I have to follow the teams, and I will look forward to the new experience.
The article continues below the picture …
Kenneth Jonassen and Anders Antonsen during the Olympics in Tokyo. Photo: Jens Dresling / POLFOTO
47-year-old Jonassen is on sick leave in connection with his rehabilitation, and therefore he will miss both the European Championships for individuals in Madrid at the end of April and the Thomas & Uber Cup in May.
Under normal circumstances, Kenneth Jonassen would have the overall coaching responsibility and coach the Danish men’s singles for the European Championships and the World Cup for teams, but until he is back, those tasks will be handled by the rest of the coaching team.
– Of course we will miss Kenneth. It is self-explanatory. He is of great importance to our training at NETC (The National Elite Training Center, ed.), Our sports management team and to the players. Both professionally and humanly, says Jens Meibom, elite and sports manager in Badminton Denmark.
– I have full confidence that the other national coaches can lift Kenneth’s tasks in his absence and together with the players meet the goals we have in the spring.
Kenneth Johannesen, who himself was a badminton player at the highest level, has been head national coach since 2016.
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