Denmark surge into semis, warn China
QINGDAO, China — The world number five 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…
QINGDAO, China — The world number five 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, will play a weakened Indonesia on Saturday 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 favourites to claim their fourth Sudirman Cup title on the bounce, play South Korea in the other semi, also Saturday. The final is on Sunday."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," said Gade 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 favourites."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."The Danes 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 home crowd.Gade, himself 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 visib
last modification 2011-05-27 22:00:49
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