In less than three weeks, the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2019 will be getting underway in Nanning, China. Denmark, England and Russia will be fighting for a medal.
From 19-26 May, 31 teams from all over the world will be competing in the Sudirman Cup which will be held in Nanning, China, this year.
Three European countries have the chance of winning a medal at the team tournament. Denmark, England and Russia are each drawn in one of the four groups that are fighting for the title.
Viktor Axelsen: We have a strong team
At the 2019 European Mixed Team Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark has already shown its fighting moral and team spirit by winning the title for the 17th time in history.
But is the team also able to claim the title at a global level? After winning the final in Copenhagen confidently 3-0, the team will definitely be ready to fight for a medal in Nanning.
- I expect that we go to China and do very well. We have a strong team, but it is, of course, difficult to play against the best Asian countries, Viktor Axelsen told Badminton Europe at the European Mixed Team Championships in February.
- Hopefully, we will be even stronger by then, he continued.
Denmark and England in one group
So far, no European country was ever able to win a gold medal at the Sudirman Cup. The only Europeans who won medals at the event were Denmark and England.
Denmark was the runner-up in 1999 and 2001, and reached the semi-finals nine times. England won one bronze medal in 2007.
This year, both countries have been drawn in one group, together with Indonesia. Russia is competing against Japan and Thailand in the group stage.