The European Mixed Team Champion, Denmark, will be flying the European flag in the final eight of the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023.
In the final round of group matches today, Denmark was not able to spoil China’s perfect record of 15-0 in group A. The home favourites summersaulted their way into the knockout stage. Denmark with their two important wins over Egypt and Singapore, advancement out of the group was a formality.
Rasmus Gemke came closest to spoiling the party against reigning All England Champion, Li Shi Feng. After an 89-minute marathon, the man from Aarhus said.
“The match was played at a high pace throughout and I am happy with the quality of my shots. In the end, it was the small things that made the difference”.
Li was victorious in three games, 21-15, 16-21, 21-15. Likewise, the men’s doubles went the distance, but Liu Yu Chen/ Ou Xuan Yi were able to pull clear from Anders Skaarup Rasmussen/ Kim Astrup and win 21-14, 19-21, 21-11.
The Chinese core of Chen Yu Fei, Zheng Si Wei/ Huang Ya Qiong and Chen Qing Chen/ Jia Yi Fan were able to deliver wins against Line Christophersen, Mathias Thyrri/ Amalie Magelund and Maiken Fruergaard/ Sara Thygesen, respectively.
Germany pushed Canada close
Germany exited the tournament with a tight battle against Canada, narrowly losing 3-2. Isabel Lohau with the two German wins was positive about the experience and unity in the team.
There was also a debut for 20-year-old Malik Bourakkadi in the men’s doubles with Jones Ralfy Jansen which almost turned into the vital point to swing the tie in their favour. However, their opponents Adam Dong/ Nyl Yakura took the win 13-21, 21-12, 21-15.
The quarterfinals draw
The draw that was conducted in Suzhou, China, right after the final group matches. It has thrown up some colossal match ups. Namely, 12-time champion China going up against a hungry Indonesian team looking for a victory since their famous win in 1989.
Japan, three times runner-up in the last four years have an interesting challenge against Group B winners Thailand.
European hopes sit with Denmark who would love to repeat their 2011 and 2013 runs, but face an in-form Malaysia team who just topped the ‘group of death’ losing just one match along the way.
China vs Indonesia
Thailand vs Japan
Denmark vs Malaysia
Chinese Taipei vs Korea
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