TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup 2020

VM for hold

Denmark’s national team coaches take you through their thoughts on how to find the strongest team composition

Team spirit in an individual sport

Once upon a time Danish badminton legends stroll down memory lane recollecting some of their best Thomas & Uber Cup moments and memories

- It means so unbelievably much to be part of a group

Photo credit: BadmintonPhoto

Putting a national team together

Prevent viral spread - Take me home

Title Sponsor

Danish Speciality Foods

~

mooh

5

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK

Table of Contents PREFACE Bo Jensen, Chief Executive, CEO Badminton Danmark: A warm welcome to a historic event

7

Jacob Bundsgaard, Mayor Municipality of Aarhus: Welcome to the international badminton championships: TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

9

Lars Lundov, Chief Executive, Sport Event Denmark Aarhus Finally

11

Ting Wee Liang, President, TotalEnergies Asia Pacific Middle East - Marketing & Service Welcome Message

13

Poul-Erik Høyer, BWF President: BWF President’s Message

15

ARTICLES Team spirit in an individual sport: - It means so unbelievably much to be part of a group

20

Come back together through sporting events

26

20

44

Considerations of a national team coach: Five focus points for putting a team together

30

Cheer for the stars

36

Past winners - Thomas Cup 1948 – 2018

38

Past winners - Uber Cup 1956 – 2018

42

Once upon a time: - Just talking about it nearly brings tears to my eyes

44

Badminton stars of Aarhus: - A huge dream coming true

50

Group stage: Thomas Cup 2020

55

Group stage: Uber Cup 2020

63

Knockout stage

71

Aarhus: A young and vibrant city

72

50 FOLLOW US:

Badminton.dk - Facebook: facebook.com/badmintondk - Instagram: @badmintondenmark - Youtube: @badmintondk LinkedIn: Badminton Danmark - Twitter: @baddk - Weibo: 丹麦羽毛球队 - WeChat: 丹麦羽毛球队

PUBLISHED BY Badminton Danmark · Idrættens Hus · Brøndby Stadion 20 · 2605 Brøndby · phone 70 60 50 76 · e-mail: info@badminton.dk · badminton.dk denmarkopen. dk · denmark2020.dk | TEXT Ida Marie Hove Sørensen · Jonas Kildegaard · Lasse Kjær Hansen · Søren Nielsen EDITORS Team Kommunikation og Marketing | PHOTO Badmintonphoto · Badminton Danmark AD SALES, LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION FL SportMarketing · Agerbakken 21 · 8362 Hørning · phone 70 22 18 70 e-mail: info@flsportmarketing.dk | PRINTING Øko-Tryk ApS · phone 96 94 04 11

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK

A warm welcome to a historic event I must admit, it has not exactly been a walk in the park to make it to where we stand today. Covid-19 has caused multiple delays and threatened the very holding of the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 in Aarhus.

Despite the many challenges caused by the global pandemic to the sport of badminton and so many other aspects to society and life in general, it has nonetheless been possible for us to find a way to allow for the world championships for men’s and women’s teams to be played in Denmark, not only for the first time, but also in a health-conscious and responsible manner. Everyone visiting the Ceres Arena during the championships can therefore feel completely at ease.

This is a great triumph. A triumph for Badminton Danmark, but particularly for the sport of badminton as a whole. For not only is the event historic in a Danish context, but now it will also be historic in an international context.

The TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 is the first great international “post-corona” badminton event. That alone, by all accounts, will go down in history as the first step towards a normalisation of things in the world of badminton. The first step towards the reopening of international professional tournament-level badminton.

We at Badminton Danmark are filled with pride and high expectations. We are thankful for the good cooperation we have not only had with the Badminton World Federation, BWF, which has been crucial in making us capable of holding the championships, but also our other partners, Aarhus Event and Sport Event Denmark.

On that same note, I want to express my thanks to all our sponsors, cooperating partners, volunteers, and staff. We would not be standing here today without their patience and lasting support.

And now, we look forward to some completely unique championships, full of exciting matches and unforgettable experiences. It will be particularly interesting to follow the world’s strongest competitors as they once again compete against each other after over half a year.

I hope that the fans, athletes, volunteers, and partners alike will all have a fantastic badminton week in Aarhus.

It is my great pleasure to say: Welcome to the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020!

Bo Jensen Chief Executive, CEO Badminton Danmark

7

8

BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

HUSK

Allehelgen I EFTERÅRSFERIEN

REJS UD REJS TILBAGE I TIDEN

SE, HØR, DUFT, SMAG, PRØV, OPDAG – OG FORSTÅ

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK

Welcome to the international badminton championships: TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 The world championships has been postponed a couple of times due to COVID-19. So, I’m very, very pleased to finally be able to say: Welcome to the international badminton championship: TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020!

The TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 is one of the world’s most prestigious international badminton events, and on behalf of the City of Aarhus, I’d like to say how proud we are to be the very first Danish host of this world-class sporting event. In fact, this is the first time in 39 years the cup will be held in Europe.

We’ve been eagerly looking forward to hosting the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 at the Ceres Park & Arena Aarhus – and to contributing to Denmark’s proud tradition of excellence in badminton.

There will be international badminton stars from all over the world at the championship, including Anders Antonsen, who was born and bred right here in Aarhus, and still plays for the local club Aarhus AB. The TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 is also a great opportunity for us to show the world what a welcoming and exciting destination Aarhus is. In Denmark, Aarhus is known as ‘the city of smiles’, and as Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus has something to do and see for everyone. You’ll find New Nordic gourmet restaurants as well as informal bistros and cafes. You can combine great shopping in our historical downtown with world-class culture and nightlife. And you won’t want to miss our flagship museums: ARoS, Den Gamle By and Moesgaard Museum.

You can read all about Aarhus on our website: www.aarhus.dk So once again, welcome to you all – tourists, the press, officials and of course, the players.

We hope that you’ll have time between matches to explore our city. Have a great time in Aarhus!

Jacob Bundsgaard Mayor Municipality of Aarhus

9

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 11

Aarhus Finally Dear athletes, coaches, officials, spectators and BWF Finally, Denmark can welcome the World of Badminton to Aarhus and the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020. I have been looking forward to this too for a long time. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the tournament was postponed to October 2021.

Looking at the bright side, together with BWF, Badminton Danmark, the City of Aarhus, and Sport Event Denmark have had more time to plan a truly compelling tournament welcoming lots of sporting surprises.

We hope to see new stars emerging on the world stage as well as seasoned competitors proving their endurance and longevity.

In the past years, Denmark has hosted a large number of major, international sporting events, especially World- and European Championships with much success. As an active member of the global sports community Sport Event Denmark thus hosts a wide variety of high-profile international events each year together with the national federations and host cities.

Denmark bids for and hosts major international sporting events to among other brand the country as a great sporting event nation and destination. TotalEnergies BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2020 is an event that builds on the legacy from the previous championships staged in Denmark.

It is our hope that the event will make you smile and that you will have a memorable stay in Aarhus – the City of Smiles

Lars Lundov Chief Executive Sport Event Denmark

Masser af sjov med

Se mere på: www.air.badminton.dk

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 13

Welcome Message by Ting Wee Liang:

Greetings to the participants, officials and spectators of the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 Welcome to Aarhus, Denmark! TotalEnergies is proud to celebrate its continuous support of the Badminton sport through our partnership with the BWF, as the Title Sponsor of BWF Major Events since 2015. Together with the BWF, we strive to continue the promotion of the badminton sport through this global and professional platform for all to participate and enjoy.

TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. The TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals brings together athletes from all across the world competing at the highest level of this well-loved sport. The distinctive attributes of badminton align well with TotalEnergies’ Brand promises – Performance, Precision and Innovation. These attributes power Badminton, just as much as they power our energy, lubricants and mobility solutions. Our Quartz car engine oil as an example, with its innovative Age Resistance Technology, reflects these values by providing better performance, ultimate resistance and optimal engine protection.

Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development at the heart of all its projects and operations. TotalEnergies’ employees live out our commitment to better energy by delivering best-inclass solutions and services to more than 8 million customers across a global network of over 15,500 service stations and a distribution network of lubricants, special fluids, additives and special fuels.

We are proud to be the Title Sponsor and Official Energies Partner for the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020.

Ting Wee Liang President TotalEnergies Asia Pacific Middle East – Marketing & Services

Badminton4U Just A Touch Away

Get closer to your favourite badminton players with the new Badminton4U app.

Learn more

*The App is available in English and Simplified Chinese.

Scan me

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 15

BWF President’s Message:

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 It was with reluctance that we had to postpone a number of tournaments last year – including the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals, first scheduled to be held in May and then October of 2020 in Aarhus, Denmark. The circumstances back then warranted those decisions, but we are now delighted to be in a position that these time-honoured championships will finally take their place on this adjusted calendar.

We have taken great heart from the successful organisation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and despite the many challenges in the lead-up – plus the sheer number of participants – the Olympics saw high-level sports conducted immaculately under the necessary safety protocols.

We have also learnt from the number of badminton tournaments held under COVID-19 conditions, and have subsequently gained great experience and confidence to be able to provide the perfect setting for the upcoming TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals.

This will be another huge step forward for BWF, Badminton Danmark, and all our affiliates as we work towards getting the circuit back on track.

As always with this tournament steeped in history and tradition, I expect an enthralling contest because these are the trophies every team wants to win. It has been a while since the last team competition, and players will be keen to win glory in a format where the team matters more than the individual.

I would also like to express my appreciation and gratitude to title sponsors TotalEnergies as well as HSBC, Yonex, GoDaddy, Moutai, and 188BET, for being with us in our drive to keep the flame of badminton burning bright. A special thanks to the City of Aarhus, Badminton Danmark, and to the untiring efforts of officials, support staff and volunteers.

I wish everyone the best of luck, and stay safe and healthy.

Poul-Erik Høyer BWF President

16 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Congratulations,

Viktor Axelsen The first Olympic gold medal for a Danish badminton player in 25 years

Photo Credit: BadmintonPhoto

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 17

18 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Vi har Vestjyllands bedste badmintontilbud • Badmintontræning op til 4 gange om ugen • Stærkt trænerteam med trænere fra øverste hylde • Fantastiske faciliteter med bl.a. to idrætshaller • Plads til alle uanset niveau • Kombinér badminton med andre valgfag eller fokusér fuldt ud på fjerene • Fokus på sportslig, personlig og faglig udvikling

e m ild

r e j df

#v

Læs mere på vie.dk & theinternational.dk

Badminton i verdensklasse

Meet the

stars in Odense

Odense Idrætshal 19.-24. oktober 2021 denmarkopen.dk

TOTAL TOT_21_00008_TotalEnergies_Logo_GrayCMYK JFB

30-34 Rue du Chemin Vert 75011 Paris +33 (0)1 85 56 97 00 www.carrenoir.com TONS RECOMMANDÉS

BLACK

Ce fichier est un document d’exécution créé sur Illustrator version CS6.

Date : 26/05/2021

TECHNIQUE

Photo credit: BadmintonPhoto

SINCE 1936

20 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 21

Team spirit in an individual sport: - It means so unbelievably much to be part of a group

National team members Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, Line Kjærsfeldt, and Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus all agree. Playing on a national team is fantastic. But what exactly characterises the Danish team spirit in badminton, which is otherwise mostly seen as an individual sport?

By Søren Nielsen

The sport of badminton is primarily seen as an individual activity, in which players hunt for personal success. Of course, some also play in pairs. But personal ambition is set aside in favour of team spirit and a common goal of representing your country in the best manner when playing at, for example, the European Championships, the Sudirman Cup Finals , and not least the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals.

- You get the feeling of being part of something bigger. I know that’s the Danish Football Association’s slogan, but it really applies. It means so unbelievably much to be part of a group, in this case a national team, says national team member Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus.

- The Danish national team has historically delivered many excellent performances at the Thomas & Uber Cup, and those results wouldn’t have been achieved without a good team spirit.

The same is true for the current national team, believes Line Kjærsfeldt.

- We support each other from start to finish. It’s fantastic to play, knowing there’s always some teammates watching and

- We’re all about fire and soul when we’re sitting and cheering.

We actually dominated the hall in 2016 and 2018.

In 2016 we got 8000 Chinese fans to cheer for us, even though we played other Asian teams.

They thought we were amusing.

Anders Skaarup Rasmussen

cheering. You can always turn around and get some words of support along the way when you’re on the court, says the 26-year-old women’s singles player, who has been a member of the Danish Uber Cup team for several years.

That same team spirit thrives in the men’s national team, according to HansKristian Solberg Vittinghus.

- You know how many people are standing behind you. And that includes your teammates. It gives you an extra spark, because you obviously want to do well for your teammates’ sakes, and for

Denmark, which you represent, claims the experienced men’s singles player.

Extra percent, extra pressure Both Line Kjærsfeldt and Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus feel that their teammates’ support helps the player on the court perform a few percentage points better in the battle. And both the men’s and women’s national teams are good at mutually supporting each other, they believe.

- At the time, it can also feel like an extra source of pressure, that you aren’t only playing for yourself on the court. >>

22 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 - Normally, when I lose, I only get angry at myself, and my defeat doesn’t affect others. But when I’m on a team, all my results affect my teammates, win or lose.

It means that you put a bit more pressure on yourself, and maybe get a bit scared of losing, since it affects the team, says Kjærsfeldt.

Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who, like Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus, helped win gold at the 2016 Thomas Cup, has experienced the feeling of letting the team down.

- No one wants to let the team down. It’s no fun if you go in and lose. Especially if you’re already favoured in the tie. My partner, Kim Astrup, and I have experienced that a couple of times, but in those situations we’re crazily good at supporting each other internally in the team, he claims.

- Team ties have a life of their own. It’s all about the tie in progress. So, it creates a really cool atmosphere. Everyone is pumped up, states Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.

A unique group It isn’t just those playing on the court that are pumped up. Denmark’s players are notorious for helping create a loud and electrified mood in the hall.

- We’re all about fire and soul when we’re sitting and cheering. We actually dominated the hall in 2016 and 2018. In 2016 we got 8000 Chinese fans to cheer for us, even though we played other Asian teams. They thought we were amusing.

So, it was pretty unique, reminisces Skaarup.

Part of the honour of bringing the Chinese fans to Denmark’s side belongs to Viktor Axelsen. The previous world champion taught his Danish teammates some Chinese phrases, which meant that the Danish players could interact with the Chinese home crowd.

- We always got the crowd on our side.

So that meant that there was a lot of pressure on the Indonesians in the final.

The Chinese fans loved that we reached out to them like that. So, they were with us for the five hours the team match lasted, remembers Hans Kristian Solberg Vittinghus.

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 23 - Not to belittle other sports, but it’s rare that you see national team members in weird hats, whistles in their mouths, and singing chants while their teammates are on the court. So that’s really special. We’re a unique group, believes Vittinghus.

Anders Skaarup is very much in agreement with that observation.

- I think that feeling of togetherness has been really strong in all the years I’ve travelled with the national team. There’s an openness, with room for fun and games.

You get quite a few more claps on the shoulder in that kind of team championship than you do when you travel around to the individual tournaments. People usually keep more to themselves at those, as you have to, he says.

Deciding the tie from the bench Not everyone can play in every team tie.

But that does not mean that those sitting it out go off to a corner and sulk. If you are not playing the tie yourself, you can decide the tie in another way, according to Vittinghus.

- When we play in the Thomas Cup, I really feel like everyone comes together more, and that we’re there for each other.

We’re there as a team. There’s no aloofness from the best players, and on the other hand, none of the players who’ve just barely got on the team say no to a task that can help the team. Everyone tries to help wherever they can. There is 100 percent support all the time, he explains.

one of the world’s best doubles players.

It’s deeply impressive that anyone can be so selfless. It was cool that he had faith in us, even though we ended up losing our match in the final, says Skaarup.

Outside the badminton court, both the women’s and men’s national teams look for something social to do during the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals.

Tactical input, help with warm-ups, and high spirits are just some of the things that the out-of-action players can contribute with.

Many meals are eaten together, table tennis is played in the lobby, and sometimes the national team members also have time to battle one another in a variety of mobile games.

The team always comes first. Anders Skaarup Rasmussen can remember an episode from the 2016 Thomas Cup exemplifying that fact.

The latter might be a cause for some frank discussions, but it’s by no means enough to damage the team spirit. It remains intact.

- Mathias Boe, for example, said ahead of the Thomas Cup final that he thought my partner Kim Astrup and I should play the final, because we had played well the day before. It would obviously have been a huge deal for him to play, and it’s worth remembering that, at the time, he was

Now is the time to dig out the clapping hats and whistles once more. For the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020, Denmark is guaranteed to once more have the crowd at its back.

Prevent infection Novel coronavirus spreads easily in places where many people are gathered together, for example through handshakes and small droplets from coughs and sneezes. To protect yourself and others, follow the guidance below.

Wash your hands often or use hand sanitiser

Do not shake hands, hug or kiss as a greeting – limit physical contact

Cough or sneeze into your elbow

Make sure to clean thoroughly

Keep your distance and ask others to be considerate

31.07.2020

coronasmitte.dk

sst.dk/corona-eng

Polestar 2 — 100% electric

Book din prøvetur på polestar.com

26 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Facts Sport Event Denmark is the national Danish sporting event organization. Established and supported by the Danish Government. Our objective is bidding for and hosting world-class sporting events in Denmark, for example World and European Championships in different sports as well as major sports congresses.

Sport Event Denmark is working in close collaboration with the Danish host cities and the national governing bodies. Sport Event Denmark is primarily focused on sports that have a strong foundation within Denmark, either at the elite level or when it comes to sport for all levels, such as badminton Today, Denmark is one of the leading countries in terms of hosting world-class sporting events (in top-12 globally according to SportCal).

Check out our event portfolio on: sporteventdenmark.com Share and contribute with #sporteventDK

Come back together through sporting events

Badminton is more than a sport; it is a phenomenon that can bring people and cultures from around the world together.

It is a window to display the values of sport in Denmark.

By Eline Andersen, Sport Event Denmark

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 27

Denmark has long been cultivating the uniqueness of the sport and embedding badminton and sport in general into the daily lives of all its citizens. Now, Denmark will share this with the entire world of badminton bringing the sport to the forefront of the international scene through TotalEnergies BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2020.

Denmark is a relatively small country, but since the beginning our focus was to welcome the best in international sport to Denmark, and the Danes wanted the world to feel at home. The Covid-19 temporarily set us on stand-by asking everybody to stay at home.

With the coronavirus outbreak sweeping across the globe, sports have not been spared. In fact, the sports industry has been heavily impacted and in many ways, paralysed by the pandemic. Sporting events at international, regional and national levels have either been cancelled or postponed – the most major being the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to July 2021.

Badminton Mania!

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen beat China’s Chen Long to win the men’s singles badminton final at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. Axelsen is only the second non-Asian winner of the title, after fellow Dane PoulErik Høyer-Larsen at Atlanta 1996, and the first nonAsian to win more than one Games medal.

Denmark’s total population wouldn’t even make it on the list of China’s top-ten biggest cities. Therefore,

it lacks the population pool that has allowed other great badminton nations to systematically find and develop talented athletes. Yet Denmark not only produced Axelsen, but also Anders Antonsen who won the 2020 season finale (over Axelsen) and many other world-class players over the past several decades.

Axelsen thus stems from a strong culture of badminton within Denmark and his impressive Olympic gold medal sparked a badminton mania in the daily lives of young and old alike in Denmark. Staging the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2020 offers the Danes first row at the spectator tribunes.

Sport Event Denmark trusted partner Staging the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2020 opens the window to the Danish sporting event model. Trusted partners are vital to any staging of major, international sporting events.

Sport Event Denmark is the Danish national sporting event organization with the main objective of attracting and organizing major international sports events and sports congresses, and the organization has been involved in attracting and hosting badminton – and many other sporting events – to Denmark.

Staging the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2020 also opens the window for the Danes to engage with the international World of Badminton. Once again, the world will be able to come back together at a major, international sporting event.

28 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

us Follow

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 29

badminton.com/badminton.dk @badmintondenmark @Baddk badmintondk Badminton Danmark badminton.dk 丹麦羽毛球队 丹麦羽毛球队 丹麦羽毛球队 丹麦羽毛球队

30 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Considerations of

a national team coach: Five focus points for putting a team together

A number of particularly important decisions must be taken before a national team match. The strongest team composition must be found. Here, you can get an idea of what Denmark’s national team head coach, Kenneth Jonassen, and national assistant coach Jesper Hovgaard, who have the primary responsibility for the men’s and women’s teams, respectively, emphasise when picking the right mix of Denmark’s best badminton players to wear the coveted red and white national team uniform.

By Søren Nielsen

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 31

A national team coach wears many hats.

Their tasks range from planning how to reach the players’ peak performance level, carrying out training, and of course, coaching for the matches. Optimisation is the key word. The endless hunt for the few percentage points’ improvement that can make the difference between victory and defeat.

Coaches are often seen sitting behind the court, hunched over and carefully pondering how the player can solve the equation and reach the sought-after solution: victory. The wrinkles on the forehead tend to multiply. But they do not reveal themselves solely during the heat of battle. In fact, they often appear much earlier than that.

Each team tie in the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals is made up of three singles and two doubles. All team ties in the preliminary group stage are played to the end, while from the quarterfinals onward, teams duel until one of them reaches the three vital victories necessary to win a team tie as a whole. When the ideal composition of the Danish national team needs to be decided, the coaches confer closely to reach the right choices. Aside from Kenneth Jonassen, who together with Jakob Høi, is primarily responsible for the men’s team, and Jesper Hovgaard,

who has the same responsibility for the women’s team, the national coaching team also includes Thomas Stavngaard.

Jakob Høi focuses on the men’s doubles category, while Thomas Stavngaard works with the mixed doubles category.

Below are the five elements Jonassen and Hovgaard take into consideration before deciding on the team’s composition.

1

Competitive shape

- The first thing I look at is how the players are doing, in terms of shape. We obviously go with the choices the coaching team believe will look sharpest on the day, notes national team head coach Kenneth Jonassen.

The coaches conduct an ongoing analysis of how the Danish aces are playing prior to, and during, the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals.

- The expected top level for the individual player or pair, and furthermore their bottom level, means everything when the team is being configured, believes Jesper Hovgaard.

In this category the coaches are therefore focused on the players’ own ability and daily performance. This leads us to the second parameter.

2

The opponent

There is, of course, an opponent on the other side of the badminton net, and according to the coaches it is not always unimportant just who the opponent is.

- We also look at which of our players match up best against the potential opponents we expect to face if we have correctly guessed the opposing team’s composition. But it can’t take too much focus away from ourselves and our own game plan, observes Jesper Hovgaard.

Kenneth Jonassen agrees: - You can have an advantage in advance if you meet an opponent that you’ve already beaten multiple times. It can provide some confidence in adversity if your historical record against the opponent is 2-0 before the match.

- But all our players have to be ready for the potential task ahead of them. So, we use video clips of our opponents to prepare, amongst other things, Jonassen continues.

3

Surprises

Videos are far from the only trick the coaches utilise. >>

32 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

ALTID FULD FABRIKSGARANTI Vi reparerer og servicerer din bil efter bilfabrikkens forskrifter og anvender reservedele, der tilsvarer kvaliteten af bilens originale reservedele.

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 33 - In the period leading up to the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals we don’t train in fixed doubles pairs. We do that so the players can try to play a bit back and forth.

The players therefore try playing training matches with different partners, says Jonassen.

Boe was the best-performing of our doubles players. So it was a strategic move to put him into play in the second men’s double, and Boe and Christiansen had already played together in a couple of group matches in the 2016 Thomas Cup, he states.

According to the head coach, there are multiple reasons to do this:

But the national team’s coaches have also experienced that the surprise factor slowly dissipates if a newly formed pair plays together too many times.

- Among other things, it can be difficult for our opponents to analyse a recently put together pair, and that can create a certain amount of confusion, where the opponent, for good reason, suddenly doesn’t know how our temporary pairs will play. How does the serve situation suddenly look? Where will the return be aimed, and how do they attack? These are elements the opponent has to experience in the moment without any background knowledge, he claims.

Denmark has previously enjoyed great success with its Thomas Cup team by creating new pairs that were otherwise not used to playing together in the individual international tournaments. The coaching team pulled a rabbit out of their hat in both 2016 and 2018, when Mathias Boe together with Mads Conrad and Mathias Christiansen, respectively, played matches together as pairs.

Boe and Christiansen won an extremely difficult match in 2018 against Malaysia, when Denmark was playing the group final against them. Before the match, the Thomas Cup team was behind 1-2, so the pressure was at maximum. But Christiansen/Boe kept their cool and won the match in three games, before Jan Ø.

Jørgensen secured the victory.

- That situation is really good proof that it can pay off to take the tactical decision to put a new pair together. In 2018 it was Jakob Høi, who was in charge of the men’s doubles, that made the decision at the time. I generally believe that shaking things up can often provide a competitive advantage, but you can’t do it just for the sake of it, says Jonassen, before lifting the veil on the tactical disposition.

- The scenario with Mathias Boe and Mathias Christiansen gave us the chance to get our most experienced player into the second men’s double, together with a young and ambitious Mathias Christiansen. In our judgement, Mathias

- In the end the opponent will start to pick up on how the new pair plays, Jonassen explains.

4

Injuries

Injuries, on the other hand, are more unpredictable, and can’t always be avoided.

- Little problems as well as injuries naturally also influence how the individual team looks before each match.

Particularly for a long tournament like the Thomas Cup. Certain players recover faster than others, and if a player experiences physical problems, it can, of course, be smartest to send the freshest player onto the court. Regrettably, injuries can set some limitations, in terms of which strategic decisions you can pull out of the toolbox. That’s how it will always be in top-level sports, states Jonassen.

- It is therefore important that the player lets us know if something is bothering

them. It makes it possible for us to take that into consideration when we select the team, says Jesper Hovgaard.

5

Experience and confidence

Experience and confidence are also two parameters that play a role in forming the team.

- Those two things have to match each other. Lots of experience doesn’t make a difference if you’re playing badly, and if your confidence is in the gutter, Jonassen declares, before adding: - The pressure and the stress that an athlete can feel during a team championship is notably different than what they experience at the individual tournaments. If a player has played two or three intense matches in a row, it can sometimes be beneficial for them to take a break. But it’s very valuable to have players that walk confidently onto the court and believe in their abilities unconditionally. If they can simultaneously count on previous experiences in tricky situations, then victory is usually within reach.

Hovgaard adds: - Beyond that, we continuously consider who will be the best at handling the stressful situations. It makes a big impact in national team ties, and especially this year, as the Thomas Cup is on our home court, he concludes.

34 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Bank skræddersyet til dig Hvad end du skal købe bolig, oprette pension eller vil investere, finder vi sammen de løsninger, som passer ind i dit liv.

Fortæl os, hvordan vi kan hjælpe dig.

Axel Kiers Vej 11 / 8270 Højbjerg / tlf. 4456 5250 aarhussyd@handelsbanken.dk / handelsbanken.dk/aarhussyd

Aarhus Syd-annonce-184x127-skræddersyet-badminton danmark-jan19.indd 1

15-01-2019 10:20:16

The world needs what you do.

GoDaddy is a proud partner of the BWF

Official Partner

36 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Cheer for the stars

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 37

Danmark

Kom så Algeria

Linadhhab

Let’s go

England

Let’s go

Alléz alléz

China

Chinese Taipei

Jia You

Kom op Japan

Ikimashou Malaysia

Korea

Ayuh

Gaja Spain

Scotland

Let’s go

Netherlands

Indonesia

Ayo pergi

Jia You

Yalla ya

France

India

Chalo

Egypt

Canada

Tahiti

Alléz alléz

Vamos Thailand

Pị kạn ˉthexa

Germany

Auf gehts

38 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Past winners

Thomas Cup 1948 - 2018 2018: HOSTED IN THAILAND (BANGKOK) China 1: Japan 2:

1996: HOSTED IN HONG KONG Indonesia 1: Denmark 2:

2016: HOSTED IN CHINA (KUNSHAN) Denmark 1: Indonesia 2:

1994: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) Indonesia 1: Malaysia 2:

2014: HOSTED IN INDIA (NEW DELHI) Japan 1: Malaysia 2:

1992: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia 1: Indonesia 2:

2012: HOSTED IN CHINA (WUHAN) China 1: Korea 2:

1990: HOSTED IN JAPAN (TOKYO) China 1: Malaysia 2:

2010: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (KUALA LUMPUR) China 1: Indonesia 2:

1988: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (KUALA LUMPUR) China 1: Malaysia 2:

2008: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) China 1: Korea 2:

1986: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) China 1: Indonesia 2:

2006: HOSTED IN JAPAN (TOKYO) China 1: Denmark 2: 2004: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) China 1: Denmark 2: 2002: HOSTED IN CHINA (GUANGZHOU) Indonesia 1: Malaysia 2: 2000: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (KUALA LUMPUR) Indonesia 1: China 2: 1998: HOSTED IN HONG KONG Indonesia 1: Malaysia 2:

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 39

1972-1973: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) Indonesia 1: Denmark 2: 1969-1970: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (KUALA LUMPUR) Indonesia 1: Malaysia 2: 1966-1967: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) Malaysia 1: Indonesia 2: 1963-1964: HOSTED IN JAPAN (TOKYO) Indonesia 1: Denmark 2: 1960-1961: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) Indonesia 1: Thailand 2: 1984: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (KUALA LUMPUR) Indonesia 1: China 2:

1957-1958: HOSTED IN SINGAPORE Indonesia 1: Malaya 2:

1981-1982: HOSTED IN ENGLAND (LONDON) China 1: Indonesia 2:

1954-1955: HOSTED IN SINGAPORE Malaya 1: Denmark 2:

1978-1979: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (JAKARTA) Indonesia 1: Denmark 2:

1951-1952: HOSTED IN SINGAPORE Malaya 1: USA 2:

1975-1976: HOSTED IN THAILAND (BANGKOK) Indonesia 1: Malaysia 2:

1948-1949: HOSTED IN ENGLAND (PRESTON) Malaya 1: Denmark 2:

Keep your distance

Keep a distance of at least 1 metre from other people.

Keep a distance of at least 2 metres in special situations, for example When near people with symptoms and others who may be infected When near people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 In situations where there is an increased risk of infection, for example in connection with singing, shouting and physical exertion 31.07.2020

coronasmitte.dk

sst.dk/corona-eng

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 41

m Læs mere o kender Vojens Wee på VGIE.dk

DRØMMER DU OM ET EFTERSKOLEÅR… Hvor du også kan dyrke din favoritsport badminton?

Så er Vojens Gymnastik- & Idrætsefterskole stedet for dig. Her har du mulighed for at udvikle dig selv som badmintonspiller. Samtidig får du et år fyldt med fællesskab, nye venner og fantastiske oplevelser.

Vojens Weekender

Få en smagsprøve på badmintonlinjen til BADMINTON-WEEKEND på VGIE den 4.-5. marts 2022. En weekend med fuld fart, badminton med professionelle trænere, hyggelige aktiviteter, og en badmintonturnering til slut.

Læs mere på VGIE.dk.

Vojens Gymnastik- & Idrætsefterskole · Ungdomsskolevej 8 · 6500 Vojens · Tlf: 74 54 11 29 · vgie@vgie.dk · www.vgie.dk

42 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Past winners

Uber Cup 1956 - 2018 2018: HOSTED IN THAILAND (BANGKOK) Japan 1: Thailand 2: 2016: HOSTED IN CHINA (Kunshan) China 1: Korea 2: 2014: HOSTED IN INDIA (New Delhi) China 1: Japan 2: 2012: HOSTED IN CHINA (Wuhan) China 1: Korea 2: 2010: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur) China 1: Korea 2: 2008: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (Jakarta) China 1: Indonesia 2: 2006: HOSTED IN JAPAN (Tokyo) China 1: Netherlands 2:

1996: HOSTED IN HONG KONG Indonesia 1: China 2:

2004: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (Jakarta) China 1: Korea 2:

1994: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (Jakarta) Indonesia 1: China 2:

2002: HOSTED IN CHINA (Guangzhou) China 1: Korea 2:

1992: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur) China 1: Korea 2:

2000: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur) China 1: Denmark 2:

1990: HOSTED IN JAPAN (Tokyo) China 1: Korea 2:

1998: HOSTED IN HONG KONG China 1: Indonesia 2:

1988: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur) China 1: Korea 2:

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 43

1986: HOSTED IN THAILAND (Bangkok) China 1: Indonesia 2: 1984: HOSTED IN MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur) China 1: England 2: 1980-1981: HOSTED IN JAPAN (Tokyo) Japan 1: Indonesia 2: 1977-1978: HOSTED IN NEW ZEALAND (Auckland) Japan 1: Indonesia 2: 1974-1975: HOSTED IN INDONESIA (Jakarta) Indonesia 1: Japan 2: 1971-1972: HOSTED IN JAPAN (Tokyo) Japan 1: Indonesia 2:

1968-1969: HOSTED IN JAPAN (Tokyo) Japan 1: Indonesia 2: 1965-1966: HOSTED IN NEW ZEALAND (Wellington) Japan 1: USA 2: 1962-1963: HOSTED IN USA (Wilmington) USA 1: England 2: 1959-1960: HOSTED IN USA (Philadelphia) USA 1: Denmark 2: 1956-1957: HOSTED IN ENGLAND (Lytham St. Annes) USA 1: Denmark 2:

44 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Once upon a time: - Just talking about it nearly brings tears to my eyes

Denmark has had countless good Thomas & Uber Cup teams over the years. Dive into the tournament’s history below to gain an insight into some of the great events from previous Danish participants and legends of the sport.

By Søren Nielsen

The Thomas & Uber Cup Finals is a prestigious worldwide championship. It is therefore by no means given that a nation will come back adorned with medals.

More likely quite the contrary is true. But the Danish teams have delivered several splendid performances over the years, as we will examine more closely in this article.

The first Thomas Cup was held in 194849, although women had to wait until 1956-57 before the Uber Cup came about. The founder of the BWF, Sir George Thomas, already had the Thomas Cup on the drawing board by the end of the 1930s, but the plans had to be put on hold due to the Second World War. In common for both the Danish women’s and men’s first time in the tournament was to have a silver medal hung around their necks on the final day, following final defeats to the USA and Malaysia, respectively.

- A mystery that they didn’t win gold We now jump to the year 1964. Back then, the Thomas & Uber Cup was only held every third year, rather than every second year as it is now. The international matches were played to nine, rather than to five, as they are played today. The women’s and men’s tournaments were also held separately. It wasn’t until 1984 that these changes were made, so the

Thomas and Uber Cups would be held simultaneously.

The Danish Thomas Cup team of 1964 included preeminent and legendary players such as Erland Kops, Finn Kobberø, and Knud Aage Nielsen. Each an AllEngland winner, with a total of almost 30 titles in the English tournament. While they did not win Thomas Cup gold, they came staggeringly close.

- It was a mystery that they didn’t win in 1964. Denmark brought an extraordinarily skilled team, and Erland Kops in particular was insanely good. No one

could understand that they lost the final match. Finn Kobberø was also on the team, and he had been all-dominating in the previous years, remembers earlier world champion in men’s doubles Steen Fladberg, who himself became a national team member in the 70s.

When Erland Kops was in fine fettle, he was apparently not much fun to train with. For the opponent, at least.

- The other Danes once tried to avoid training with Erland because he practically made them depressed. That’s how good he was, admits Steen Fladberg.

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 45 advantage with the climate conditions.

So, we ended up really getting our asses kicked, remembers Fladberg ruefully, who, along with Jesper Helledie, won the individual world championship in men’s doubles on Danish soil in 1983.

But the road to the finals in Jakarta was paved with plenty of great matches that showed a promising future. Svend Pri was just about “over the hill”, but with two stunning performances in the semifinal he showed that he still belonged amongst the best. The Danish team had displayed an indomitable fighting spirit, and the onrushing 21-year-old Morten Frost had shown his talents.

As a reward for reaching the final the players were given a paid holiday after the tournament.

And Denmark was unfathomably close to winning the gold in 1964. In the semifinal, the Danish team decisively defeated Malaysia with a score of 7-2. Thailand was swept off the court with a 6-3 victory in the final. So, one would think the gold was as good as won. However, at the time a so-called “Challenge Round” had to be played.

In this round, the winners of the final had to face the defending champions. This extremely close affair ended with the Danes laying down their arms after a 4-5 defeat by Indonesia.

This would end up as one of the last tournaments in which the winners of the final would face the defending champions in a Challenge Round.

Medal-bound in Jakarta Denmark’s Thomas Cup team would again find themselves in the final in 1973, and later in 1979. That latter tournament is clearly remembered by Steen Fladberg.

Denmark had qualified for the Thomas Cup by winning the Europe Zone, which is best described as a qualifying tournament in which the European teams duel each other.

In 1979, Denmark had defeated the Swedes in the final, and the course was

set towards the Thomas Cup podium in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, which was that year’s Thomas Cup host. There was not a fault to be found in the preparations for the Thomas Cup. In prelude to the tournament, the Danish team had spent a week at a training camp in Malaysia to acclimatise to the heat.

India was defeated 7-2 in the semifinal.

Svend Pri, Morten Frost, Flemming Delfs, Steen Skovgaard and Steen Fladberg therefore had the chance to secure Denmark’s first Thomas Cup gold medal.

Third time tends to be the charm. But not in 1979. Denmark was soundly beaten 0-9

by Indonesia in front of 14,000 people in Istora Senayan in Jakarta.

Steen Fladberg remembers the scene vividly.

- All the spectators were chain-smoking cigarettes in the violently windy hall. And there was no such thing as air conditioning by the way, so we played in 34-degree heat in the evening with humidity like a sauna. It was tremendously noisy, and the Indonesian fans created a spectacular backdrop, he says.

- If we had played Indonesia in Europe, it probably would have been a fifty-fifty match. They were more at ease playing on their home court, and they had a big

- The Danish Badminton Federation gave us a holiday of 3-4 days in Manila in the Philippines and 3-4 days at a fantastic hotel in Singapore. I was just a young kid from a small town, so it was a huge experience. We weren’t paid for playing back then, so it was a reward for participating.

All-inclusive along with a stipend and per diem. I really felt privileged, reminisces Steen Fladberg.

The Uber Cup team’s turn came in 2000 It would subsequently be quite a few years before Denmark could again be found in the finals at either the Thomas or the Uber Cup. The men’s national team lost another Thomas Cup final in 1996.

But in 2000, it would be the Uber Cup team’s turn to play in the final.

A team with names including Camilla Martin, Rikke Olsen (now Rikke Siegemund), and Mette Schjoldager went undefeated through the group stage, which saw victories over Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia. The Danes thundered onwards through the semi-final, defeating South Korea with a clear 3-0, and moving on to the final in which China awaited. The Danish women would, however, be halted with a 0-3 defeat.

Despite the defeat in the final match, Mette Van Dalm, who was a Danish Uber Cup team member in 2000, has fond memories of the championship.

- The experience of being able to come so far, and to be in it together. It was com- >>

46 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 beat after a very close match. I can clearly remember my match against Dong Jiong from China. Back then we played to 15, and you need to have the serve to win a point. I was down 1-13 in the second set, and I had already lost the first set. And despite that I turned the match around and won in three sets. It was a really special experience for me. Regrettably, we then got torn apart in the final match against Indonesia, admits Høyer.

The Danes were also more at ease at the 1996 tournament compared with a few years earlier.

- In 1996 we brough a chef along. Two years earlier we had a rather unfortunate experience when every one of us got food poisoning. So, having a chef along was a really good experience, and it meant that the meals brought us more together, says Poul-Erik Høyer. pletely unique, says Mette Van Dalm, who won all her matches in the championship until the final match against China.

She remembers the brilliant camaraderie of the Danish Uber Cup team during the 2000 tournament, which was held in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

- We were very serious about cheering each other on, and on the court, you just felt a tremendous amount of support.

Two years earlier in Hong Kong we had already gotten a bit of a reputation for being good at cheering each other on, so it was just a wonderful experience, she says.

Majken Vange, who was also on the 2000 team, remembers not just the silver medal, but also an episode that took place during the tournament.

- I remember, there was a point where we couldn’t get back to the hotel after playing the semi-final. There were very few buses, so we had to wait a long time.

But we were able to flag down a passing driver with a flatbed truck, and he drove us back to the hotel. We all sat and sang.

We had just beaten Korea in the semi-final. Steen Pedersen (the national team’s coach at the time) sat in the passenger seat, while the rest of us sat squeezed into the back. It might have been a bit unsafe, but it was quite festive, she describes.

A personal chef brought the players together

Proud of the experiences with the national team

Someone who was also at the tournament in 2000 is the former Olympic champion Poul-Erik Høyer. He is maybe best remembered for the iconic celebratory scene at the Olympic in Atlanta where he won gold, but Poul-Erik Høyer has also represented Denmark loads of times at the Thomas Cup.

Someone else who also was along in 1996 is Peter Gade. But he was most of all there to learn. The former top-ranked player in the world, Morten Frost, was the national team’s coach at the time, and he brought a young Peter Gade into the group. Peter Gade would hardly stick to the sidelines in the following years. The Dane was Denmark’s first men’s singles several times at the Thomas Cup, and the memories are therefore numerous.

Yet Gade names one specific year as something special.

The Dane’s fondest memory of the tournament is from 1996, where Denmark won the silver medal.

- My fondest memory is the Thomas Cup tournament of 1996 in Hong Kong. We played China in the semi-final, who we

- Off the top of my head my fondest memory is meeting Malaysia in 2000 on

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 47

their home court in Kuala Lumpur in the deciding group match, in front of 14,000 spectators. In that match I played first men’s singles against Wong Choon Hann, whom I know really well. It was fantastic to beat him in a match in front of so many spectators and bring us to 1-0 in the team match. The scene was really something special.

In addition, in the semi-final against Indonesia that same year Peter Gade won first men’s single. But it ended with a 2-3 defeat, and the men’s team would therefore not join the women’s national team, who as we know won silver.

Gade looks back on the Thomas Cup experiences with great pride.

- Being part of a team and representing your country has always been enormously motivational for me. The years in which I participated had a fantastic atmosphere, and it’s something I’ll always remember, says the former world championship silver medallist.

Peter Gade was also front and centre on the Danish national team in 2004 and 2006, where once again silver would hang from the necks of the team. In

those tournaments the Dane would face off against players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei, amongst others.

to show the level of celebrity of the best Indonesian badminton players, notes Lundgaard.

Good contacts, good parties, and finally, gold

Denmark finally secured a historic gold medal in 2016. At long last everything had come together. Tight margins, nerves of steel, and most importantly, some spectacular badminton, meant that Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus could win the deciding point against Indonesia. The fourth 3-2 victory of the tournament. A match that for Vittinghus is still touching to think about.

Martin Lundgaard Hansen, to the contrary, had his hands full with Olympic champions like Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun of China. Lundgaard, like Peter Gade, was part of many fantastic performances, including the silver medals in 2004 and 2006.

Lundgaard has by no means forgotten the loud and enthusiastic fans. The celebrations are also clear in his memory.

When you win a silver medal you sometimes do not feel like going to bed early.

In this type of scenario, it can be very rewarding to have good contacts.

- We had some good parties. In Indonesia in 2004 we first had to get over the defeat against China in the final. We later decided to go out and celebrate the silver medal. It was a Sunday, and the nightclubs were closing early. But we got a hold of Taufik Hidayat, who was a previous Olympic champion. He made just one call, and then the nightclubs stayed open late just for our sake. It really goes

- For me, the final match was amazing.

To walk onto the court for the deciding match of the final. I’ll never forget it. It almost brings tears to my eyes just to talk about it. The pride and joy that I felt was amazing. I knew that I could bring home a gold medal for Denmark. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of. Such a team effort, says Vittinghus.

The dream lives on at the home court in 2020, and once again Denmark has the chance to make history.

Thaisen Ma’hus Algade 30 . 5750 Ringe . 62624141 tast 2 kontakt@thaisenmahus.dk . www.thaisenmahus.dk

Se mere på vores hjemmeside eller på facebook.

Thaisen Ma’hus er det lille hyggelige spisested i Ringe, hvor du kan nyde vores mad eller tage det med som take away. Vi har altid et sæsonbetonet spisekort med fynske specialiteter. Vi afvikler selskaber i og ude af huset, små events og arrangementer. Vores kølemontrer er fyldt med hjemmelavede kager, chokolader, brød, is og meget mere.

Thaisen Hus er dit mødested med overnatningsfaciliteter for både virksomheder og private. Vi er en familiedrevet, moderne og smagfuldt indrettet kursusejendom, midt på Fyn i midten af Danmark. På Thaisen Hus afvikler vi kurser, møder, kokkeskoler, firmafester, private fester og arrangementer. En anden del af aktiviteterne er store konferencer, festivaler og events fra 100 til 1000 + personer, som vi afvikler på andre lokationer. Endelig er det her, vi producerer og forarbejder de fynske produkter.

Thaisen Hus Assensvej 183 . 5750 Ringe . 62624141 tast 1 info@thaisenhus.dk . www.thaisenhus.dk

Se mere på vores hjemmeside eller facebook.

THAISEN MA’HUS

THAISEN HUS

“i am badminton” is BWF’s global integrity campaign.

Players are at the centre of this campaign because they have the right to compete in clean and fair sport.

The “i am badminton” campaign is an opportunity for players to show their commitment to protecting the sport from threats like doping, match fixing, illegal betting and corruption.

50 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Badminton stars of Aarhus: - A huge dream coming true

Two of the world’s best Danish singles players, Line Kjærsfeldt and Anders Antonsen, are especially excited to compete in the Team World Championship, namely because the tournament is being held in their hometown, Aarhus.

The two almost cannot believe it themselves but maintain that it will be something very special to play in a world championship for the Danish national team in their own hometown.

By Ida Marie Hove Sørensen

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 51 This year’s TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 will, for the first time ever, be played on Danish soil, specifically in Aarhus. Aarhus is not just any host city for Anders Antonsen and Line Kjærsfeldt. It’s their place of birth, and their hometown. It’s the city where they first signed up for badminton training. It’s the city they know inside and out. And it’s a city that brings back many happy badminton memories. And that, they believe, is really something special.

- It doesn’t just feel like a place where I’m competing in a world championship, it feels like a home, explains the world championship silver medallist and third-ranked player on the global ranking list, Anders Antonsen.

The championships will be held at the Ceres Park & Arena, located not much more than a stone’s throw away from

Antonsen’s childhood home. When you are used to competing in the biggest championships in Asia, on the other side of the globe, it’s guaranteed to be a completely different and unusual experience to play in a team’s world championship just past the backyard of your childhood home. As Anders Antonsen explains: - It’ll be pretty odd to be at such a big tournament while also being in a place I know so well. After the matches are played, I’ll be walking along the streets and roads I know. And I’ll go to the restaurants I’ve eaten in all my life. But even though it will be strange, I’m convinced that the familiar surroundings and the feeling of being home will positively affect my play on the court.

Antonsen pleased with the home-court advantage That the world championship is being

played in Aarhus, which Anders Antonsen continues to call his “home court,” gives the tournament a whole other meaning for the singles player: - I really want to do well at the Thomas Cup. Especially when it’s on my home-court. It’ll mean a lot to me, expresses Antonsen.

Antonsen also states that he could not be any more motivated ahead of the world championship in Aarhus.

- It’s definitely extra motivating, that it’s being held in Aarhus. It’s a huge dream of mine to succeed at the Thomas Cup, so of course I feel really motivated.

Motivation, good results, and a certain sense of calm are just some of the attributes Antonsen is bringing along to Aarhus. And the 24-year-old has done well when previously playing in Aarhus.

Three Danish Championships have been won in the exact same hall as the world team championships are held. That’s why he sees it as a clear advantage that it’s precisely there, that he, and the rest of the Danish men’s national team will cross rackets with the world’s best badminton players.

- I see it as a big advantage that the world championship is being held in Aarhus. I have some good memories and not least good results from the hall in Aarhus, which I’m sure I can bring with me on the court, expresses Antonsen, and continues: - I’m relaxed in a different kind of way when I play in Aarhus, and in a hall I know. And I think that’s going to have a positive effect on me.

Aarhus on the world map It’s the first time that such a big badminton event has visited Aarhus. And that particularly pleases Denmark’s most experienced women’s national team member, Line Kjærsfeldt. With a big smile, she explains that one of the things she’s most looking forward to is show off Aarhus to the rest of the badminton world.

- It’s so cool that the tournament is being held in my hometown. I’m so excited to show the foreign badminton stars around the city and put Aarhus on the map, says >> the women’s singles player.

#iambadminton Pusarla V. Sindhu (IND) and Michelle Li (CAN) Global Integrity Ambassadors

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 53

Line Kjærsfeldt, like Anders Antonsen, feels that there is something really special about competing in such a large tournament in the city where it all began, and expresses that it would be amazing if the Danish women’s national team finds success on the home court.

- Of course, success is always nice and fun. But I think it would be something really special for me on my home court in Aarhus, she believes.

But the home-court advantage isn’t exclusively a positive, according to Kjærsfeldt. On Danish soil the media awareness amongst Danes is much higher than when playing abroad.

- I feel like the pressure on us is so big.

Both because us athletes want to deliver and perform at a higher level. But also, because we generally receive more attention playing in Denmark, compared to playing in Asia, for example, says Line Kjærsfeldt.

On the other hand, the Aarhus native hopes that the women’s national team, which is the eighth seed in the tournament, can take advantage of their underdog role.

- We’re coming in as underdogs, which means we’re bringing everything we’ve got to the court, and hopefully create a good surprise, she states.

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 55

Group stage Thomas Cup 2020

GROUP A

Indonesia

Chinese Taipei

Algeria

Thailand

Schedule of Play Saturday 9 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Saturday 9 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 3

Monday 11 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Monday 11 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 3

Wednesday 13 October 8:30 AM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Wednesday 13 October 1:30 PM

–

Court 3

56 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Her finder du græsplæner, der kalder på jordbærbed, vandkampe, grillaftener og snemænd.

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 57

Group stage Thomas Cup 2020

GROUP B

Denmark

Korea

France

Germany

Schedule of Play Saturday 9 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Saturday 9 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Monday 11 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Monday 11 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Wednesday 13 October 7:00 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Wednesday 13 October 7:00 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

58 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

du på at ikker ste s r æ V n bed får de e af dit t y udb t nde skab. ” re e hjælp t eksis nde ”start øring e g dækk og ren Lands nemgang kun n r e o med g f skabet f a

5,-

kr. 59

JULEFROKOST MED ANNIKA AAKJÆR OG LIVEMUSIK

En julefest fyldt med gode julegrin og musikalsk stjernedrys.

JULEFROKOST

MED FRI ØL, VIN & VAND

1.049,Pris pr. person

Årets julefrokost på Sabro Kro har alt, hvad julehjertet begærer. Fantastiske Annika Aakjær gæster julefrokosten, og efter maden spiller orkestret op til dans. Vores dygtige kokke tilbereder en udsøgt julemenu med lækre og klassiske retter, som får mundvandet til at løbe og julehumøret til at stige. Slut aftenen af med en overnatning på et af vores smukke værelser og slip for at fi nde hjem, når vi siger ”tak for i aften” efter en skøn julefrokost!

Vælg mellem disse datoer: 26. & 27. november, 3., 4., 10. & 11. december

Tilbuddet indeholder:  Skønne, klassiske juleretter  Fantastisk underholdning & livemusik  Fri øl, vin & vand  Mulighed for overnatning på hotellet

TA’ EN OVERNATNING

Enkeltværelse

Nyd at vågne op på vores luksuriøse værelser og få fuld forkælelse med vores store morgenmad inkluderet i værelsesprisen. Priser er ekskl. julefrokost.

Standardværelse

675,-

Inkl. stor morgenmad.

Pris pr. person

Inkl. stor morgenmad.

Pris for 2 personer

850,-

BESTIL NU ➤ 8694 8922 ELLER SABROKRO @SABROKRO.DK · LÆS MERE ➤ SABROKRO.DK

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 59

Group stage Thomas Cup 2020

GROUP C

China

India

Netherlands

Tahiti

Schedule of Play Sunday 10 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Sunday 10 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 3

Tuesday 12 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Tuesday 12 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 3

Wednesday 13 October 7:00 PM

–

Court 3

Thursday 14 October

–

Court 1 (TV)

8:30 AM

60 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Kaatsu® træning

kan øge udholdenhed, speed og styrke, eller afkorte et skadesforløb

For at vinde skal du ville det 100% sådan arbejder vi Kom ind i kampen: martinsen.dk

Kaatsu er en træningsform for alle aldersgrupper, hvor man, igangsætter en stime af yderst gavnlige effekter, som resulterer i øget muskelopbygning og styrke, hurtigere heling af skader, og øget blodgennemstrømning i mindre aktivt væv. Man opnår gode resultater på relativt kort tid, herunder også øget hurtighed og reaktionstid.

Ref.: Karin Mortensen, fysioterapeut www.Fysio360.dk - ex håndboldspiller

Se videoen på youtube Søg: Genoptræning efter skulderskade - Kaatsu® | Fysiodema eller følg linket til: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djz3JFAzg1U&t=23s

UDDANNELSE OG KØB AF UDSTYR: INFO@FYSIODEMA.DK

Har du set vores andre linjefag?

MOUNTAINBIKE

ADVENTURE

FIT LIVING

DANMARKS BEDSTE

BADMINTON-LINJE Se mere på rebildefterskole.dk

Rebild Efterskole • Himmerlandsvej 83 • 9520 Skørping Tlf: 9839 1788 • Kontor@rebildefterskole.dk

FODBOLD

RIDNING

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 61

Group stage Thomas Cup 2020

GROUP D

Japan

Malaysia

Canada

England

Schedule of Play Sunday 10 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 3

Sunday 10 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Tuesday 12 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Tuesday 12 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Thursday 14 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Thursday 14 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 3

62 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

MALERFIRMA Bente Langvad

Officiel sponsor for Charlottenlund badmintonklub & Skovshoved Badminton

Kristoffervej 8, Elsegårde • 8400 Ebeltoft

RING OG FÅ ET TILBUD Tlf. 20 68 21 73

HEIMDALS KØRESKOLE

Oddervej 172 • 8270 Højbjerg • Tlf. 24 85 81 85 www.heimdalskoreskole.dk

g

Opbevarin

v/ Orla Nielsen Møldalvej 15B, Skjoldelev • 8471 Sabro on@campingly.dk

Tlf. 22 95 84 77

Drømmer du om en hverdag hvor elite idræt og en gymnasiel uddannelse går hånd i hånd...

Så besøg os på www.sportstarcollege.dk SPORTSTAR COLLEG E E SPORTSTAR COLLEG

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 63

Group stage Uber Cup 2020

GROUP A

Japan

Indonesia

Germany

France

Schedule of Play Saturday 9 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Saturday 9 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 3

Monday 11 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Monday 11 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Tuesday 12 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 2 (TV

Tuesday 12 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 3

64 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Familiefirmaet med erhvervserfaring siden 1938

Ryesgade 31 8000 Aarhus C Tlf. 86 13 41 66 guldager-symaskiner@mail.dk www.guldager-symaskiner.dk

Søagervej 8 • 2670 Greve Tlf. +45 22 38 08 64 www.Gorm.dk

Målrettet rådgivning betaler sig Aarhus | Tlf. 87 32 57 00 | beierholm.dk

Chr. X´s Vej 42 A 8260 Viby J T: 8627 0111 • F: 8627 2504 m@rselis.dk • marselisfirma.dk Personlig & Seriøs vejledning Hos LØBEREN hjælper vi dig med at finde den løbesko, der fuldender din løbeoplevelse.

loberen.dk

www.biomar.com

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 65

Group stage Uber Cup 2020

GROUP B

Thailand

India

Spain

Scotland

Schedule of Play Sunday 10 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Sunday 10 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Tuesday 12 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Tuesday 12 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 3

Wednesday 13 October 8:30 AM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Wednesday 13 October 1:30 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

66 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Århus N Randersvej 142 , 8200 Århus N Købmand John Johannsen Tlf.: 86 10 80 33

Harald Jensens Plads 17 • 8000 Århus C

Helle Rolsting Bogholderi, Løn, Regnskab Merkonom i Økonomistyring Mere end 10 års erfaring

REGNSKAB

Havehusene 64 • 2670 Greve Tlf. 21 46 22 44 • www.ajour-regnskab.dk

ANLÆGSGARTNER / HAVEKONSULENT FLISEMINISTEREN Vesterbro Torv 4, 4tv.

8000 Aarhus C Tlf. 22 31 17 60 jakob@fliseministeren.dk www.fliseministeren.dk

PETER AGGER www.peteragger.com

Bygvangen, 8200 Aarhus N Peter: 28 35 51 13 • Joyce: 28 35 95 94 Mail: peter@peteragger.com • Mail: joyce@peteragger.com

Vandvejen 7 8000 Aarhus C Tlf. 89 87 36 30

STORKØKKEN Salg: Tlf. 87 40 35 00 Service og reservedele: Vest - tlf. 9634 0656 Øst - tlf. 4698 3800 storkokken@electroluxprofessional.com

GREVE SVØMMEHAL Greve Svømmehal byder på motionssvømning, vandgymnastik, 1 og 3 meter vipper, 5, 7,5 og 10 meter tårne, baby- og småbørnsbassin samt motionscenter.

Se vores aktuelle åbningstider på vores hjemmeside www.gsh.dk Velkommen i Greve Svømmehal – din svømmehal

Jørgen Bachs Plads 1 • 2670 Greve • Tlf. 43 97 95 27

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 67

Group stage Uber Cup 2020

GROUP C

Korea

Chinese Taipei

Tahiti

Egypt

Schedule of Play Saturday 9 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 3

Sunday 10 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 3

Monday 11 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Monday 11 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 3

Wednesday 13 October 8:30 AM

–

Court 3

Wednesday 13 October 1:30 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Vær med på en lytter…

Alt om dansk badminton

Inspiration til spiller og træner Ny viden om badminton

Interviews med de bedste spillere Lær stjernerne at kende uden for banen

Ungdom og talent

PODCAST

Tilgængelig på din foretrukne podcasttjeneste

Scan og lyt med

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 69

Group stage Uber Cup 2020

GROUP D

China

Denmark

Malaysia

Canada

Schedule of Play Saturday 9 October

8:30 AM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Saturday 9 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Sunday 10 October

1:30 PM

–

Court 2 (TV)

Sunday 10 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

Monday 11 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 3

Tuesday 12 October

7:00 PM

–

Court 1 (TV)

70 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Strøget, København | Rødovre Centrum | City 2, Tåstrup | Lyngby Storcenter | Frederiksberg Centret | Strøget, Aarhus | Kolding Storcenter | Field’s | Bruuns Galleri | Kongensgade 49, Esbjerg | Rosengårdcentret, Odense | Aalborg Storcenter | Storcenter Nord, Aarhus | Slotsarkaderne, Hillerød | Bryggen, Vejle | herningCentret | Waves

www.kaufmann.dk

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 71

Knockout stage Thursday 14 October 1:30 PM

Uber Cup Quaterfinal

7:00 PM

Uber Cup Quaterfinal

Friday 15 October

8:30 AM

Thomas Cup Quaterfinal

1:30 PM

Thomas Cup Quaterfinal

7:00 PM

Uber Cup Semifinal

Saturday 16 October 1:00 PM

Thomas Cup Semifinal

7:00 PM

Uber Cup Final

1:00 PM

Thomas Cup Final

Sunday 17 October

72 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Aarhus

A young and vibrant city Located right by the sea, bustling Aarhus has so much to offer, whether you are seeking experiences in beautiful nature or a city break including shopping, great food, culture, historic sites and loads of entertainment.

With world-class attractions that rival those of many larger cities, you are guaranteed to find something to enjoy in Denmark’s second largest city. Home to 335,000 people and being a student city, Aarhus might be old at heart, but definitely young in spirit.

The Moesgaard Museum is a unique attraction not only because of the architectural design of the museum and the exhibitions, but also due to its location in the beautiful natural surroundings in south of Aarhus, overlooking the forrests and sea.

A city attracting international sporting and cultural events

Den Gamle By – The Old Town Museum

Over the years, Aarhus has attracted many major international sporting and

The Old Town Museum is a perfectly unique attraction in Aarhus for the whole family to go on fascinating journey back in history. The museum is awarded the maximum three stars in the Michelin Travel Guide.

ARoS Art Museum ARoS is the main art museum in Aarhus and one of the largest museums in Northern Europe. Each year, ARoS has about one million visitors, making it the most frequented art museum in Scandinavia. On the roof of ARoS, you can visit Your Rainbow Panorama. A spectacular artwork made of the Danish/ Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

Moesgaard Museum The past is brought to fascinating life at the Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus.

Moesgaard Museum has three Michelin stars in the Michelin attraction’s guide.

Ceres Park & Arena and the new Kongelunden On a daily basis, the Ceres Park & Arena is home court for the city’s elite handball team and football team. Ceres Park & Arena is also the city’s largest concert ve-

nue. In the coming years, the whole area will be transformed into a large recreational and sport area with a new stadium – it is called Kongelunden.

TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020 | BADMINTON DANMARK 73

cultural events to the city. In recent years, SailGP 2021, European Championship in Ball Room Dancing 2020, World Championship Cross Country 2019, Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 and last but not least European Capital of Culture in 2017.

Looking forward, the city will in 2022 be turned into “Music City Aarhus” and in 2023 everybody is looking forward to The Ocean Race, where Aarhus and Denmark for the first time ever will be a Stopover city.

Other international highlights to experience in Aarhus SPOT-festival – An international music conference and festival with focus on upcoming music Classic Race Aarhus – the biggest car race with classic cars in Northern Europe Aarhus Jazz-festival – international jazz for a whole week NorthSide Festival – 3 day music festival presenting international music and upcoming bands Aarhus Festuge/Festival – one of the biggest cultural festivals in Northern Europe lasting 10 days Aarhus City Halfmarathon – experience Aarhus scenic places running Food Festival – a big Nordic food festivals where you can taste, try and learn about Nordic kitchen Moesgaard Viking Moot – the biggest Viking Market in Scandinavia gathering Vikings and spectators from all over the world For more information about Aarhus https://www.visitaarhus.com

74 BADMINTON DANMARK | TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2020

Dirch Passers Gade 2 8000 Aarhus C Tlf: 88 53 29 67

Aarhus C Købmand Stig Sekkelund

86 13 12 33

Smedetoften 11B • 3600 Frederikssund Tlf. 47 31 02 17 • info@husmer.dk www.husmer.dk

Frederiksgade Frederiksgade 94 , 8000 Aarhus C

Hovmosevej 28 • 6064 Jordrup Tlf. 20 10 13 68

Trøjborgvej 8 k • 8200 Aarhus N PERSONLIG RÅDGIVNING MED HØJ FAGLIGHED INGENIØRRÅDGIVNING • BYGHERRERÅDGIVNING • BÆREDYGTIGT BYGGERI

Tlf. 87 39 09 77

Overskuddet går lige i fællesskabet.

Har du nogensinde tænkt over, hvem der vinder, hver gang du taber?

Hos Danske Spil er det os alle sammen. For Danske Spil er ejet af staten. Dig og mig. Derfor går overskuddet fra vores lotterier via udlodningsmidlerne til alle mulige projekter, der har brug for fællesskab. Fra handicapatleter til voldsramte kvinder. Og sidste år var der faktisk over en milliard kroner at gøre godt med.

Heldigvis. Men ikke tilfældigvis.

Overskuddet fra Danske Lotteri Spil A/S går til udlodningsmidlerne.