World No. 5 Peter Gade warned China that Denmark were capable of beating the holders after his side downed a gutsy Taiwan 3-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Sudirman Cup.
Denmark, Europe’s best badminton team, were to play a weakened Indonesia yesterday after they came from behind to end Japan’s challenge at the world mixed team championships, one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.
Hosts China, the overwhelming favorites to claim their fourth Sudirman Cup title on the bounce, were to play South Korea in the other semi, also yesterday. The final is today.
“The semi-final was the goal of the team and no matter who we play, we have a very good chance and we are really going for it,” Gade said after he stormed back to see off the unheralded Hsueh Hsuan-yi over three thrilling games. “We have a team that on a good day can beat anyone, even China, but China are still the favorites.
“For the Denmark team, the goal was to get in the semi-final and get a medal, but the dream was to get in the final and face China in their own home, in this stadium. We’ll go after the dream and see what happens,” he added.
Denmark were already a match up thanks to their mixed doubles when the veteran Gade took to the court in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao. It turned out to be far closer than anyone had anticipated as the 25-year-old Taiwanese Hsueh, ranked a lowly 60 in the world, pushed Gade all the way.
Hsueh came from behind to take the first game 22-20 and if that was good, he was even better at the start of the second.
At 5-4, Hsueh twice somehow managed to claw the shuttlecock off the floor when sprawled on all fours, springing back to his feet to eventually go 6-4 up, to roars of approval from the crowd.
Gade, a hugely popular figure in China, looked shell-shocked, but the 34-year-old composed himself and suddenly the young Taiwanese could get nothing right, making a series of unforced errors to gift the Dane the second game 21-15.
Gade’s experience told in the third, as Hsueh visibly tired, allowing the Dane to take the game 21-10 and put Denmark firmly on their way.
“I knew that maybe I was going to be a bit drained after the match I had two days ago and even though I was controlling lots in the first game, I let go of it and that was not good,” Gade said.
“He hit the net a lot of times and he took a lot of risks, but I knew he was that kind of player and he’s a dangerous player with lots of confidence,” he said of Hsueh.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two