After their semifinal loss, the world ranking number two Danish duo Astrup/Rasmussen found themselves in a battle for the bronze medal against the competent Malaysian pair Aaron Chia/ Soh Wooi Yik (MAL). Leading comfortably in the first game, they won 21-16.
As the match went on, the Danes found themselves in a second game where they led most of the game but were behind at the mid-game interval. After that, they managed to get back into the game and got themselves four bronze match points, just one point away from the Olympic medal. However, it was not to be as the Malaysian duo managed to take the second game 22-20.
In the third game, the confident Malaysian pair led throughout the whole decider, although the distraught Danish pair was fighting with everything they had, until the game was at a 19-19 standing. In the end, the Malaysian duo was the calmest one under the pressure as Kim Astrup ended the two last points with attempted dropshots that went sraight into the net.
Back when the Danish pair won the initial quarterfinal, an emotional Anders Skaarup Rasmussen explained that the quarterfinal was the most important match as it would guarantee them the last two matches, for either gold or bronze, regardless if they lost both the matches. For them, it would be worth it because of the experience, the crowd, and the atmosphere. In the end, they did lose both matches, and although we are sad not to see second European medal at the Olympics after Viktor Axelsen, we agree with Rasmussen that we throrougly enjoyed their whole Olympic journey in Paris.
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