Danish men reach badminton world final
Denmark beat Malaysia in a thrilling 3-2 semi-final at the Thomas Cup late Friday to inch closer to winning their first world badminton team championship.
Denmark's Hans-Kristian Vittinghus reversed the tide midstream in a dramatic comeback against the talent-rich Malaysians after the Danes dropped the two first matches of the semi-final in the eastern Chinese city of Kunshan.
World number two Lee Chong Wei put his teammates on the winning path after grinding down reigning European champion Viktor Axelsen in a 23-21, 21-18 win.
Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong maintained the lead with an exhausting pace against Mathias Boe and Mads Conrad-Petersen with leaping overhead smashes in their 21-18, 21-18 win.
Down two points, Vittinghus wrestled back momentum from the Malaysians by remaining patient during lengthy rallies with Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, whittling away his opponent's stamina for the 21-18, 21-18 comeback.
"I stayed calm and stuck to my game plan -- that's a lot easier said than done," Vittinghus said after the match.
With the Chinese fans firmly behind them, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen kept the Danes in the tournament with a 10-21, 21-8, 21-13 win over Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
In the dramatic fifth match of the tie, Emil Holst clinched the Danes' final berth with a 21-15, 21-18 win over Chong Wei Feng, bringing his teammates rushing onto the court.
Denmark are set to face Indonesia on Sunday in the Thomas Cup final.
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Denmark's Hans-Kristian Vittinghus reversed the tide midstream in a dramatic comeback against the talent-rich Malaysians after the Danes dropped the two first matches of the semi-final in the eastern Chinese city of Kunshan.
World number two Lee Chong Wei put his teammates on the winning path after grinding down reigning European champion Viktor Axelsen in a 23-21, 21-18 win.
Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong maintained the lead with an exhausting pace against Mathias Boe and Mads Conrad-Petersen with leaping overhead smashes in their 21-18, 21-18 win.
Down two points, Vittinghus wrestled back momentum from the Malaysians by remaining patient during lengthy rallies with Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, whittling away his opponent's stamina for the 21-18, 21-18 comeback.
"I stayed calm and stuck to my game plan -- that's a lot easier said than done," Vittinghus said after the match.
With the Chinese fans firmly behind them, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen kept the Danes in the tournament with a 10-21, 21-8, 21-13 win over Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
In the dramatic fifth match of the tie, Emil Holst clinched the Danes' final berth with a 21-15, 21-18 win over Chong Wei Feng, bringing his teammates rushing onto the court.
Denmark are set to face Indonesia on Sunday in the Thomas Cup final.
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