EUROPEAN CHAMPS – Denmark sends younger team

EUROPEAN CHAMPS – Denmark sends younger team

Denmark will be favourite to win the team European Championships, but it will be without veterans Peter Gade and the duo of Paaske/Ramsussen. The Danes will bank on their new talents to keep the Gold medal they have won 12 times already. All teams line-ups have just been unveiled by organizers. Raphael Sachetat, Photos : Badmintonphoto.com (archives) Denmark will be favourite for the Team European Championships, to be held in Liverpool next month. But there will be a chance for other teams to beat the great Danes, as three key figures will be missing from the squad : Peter Gade, Jonas Rasmussen and Lars Paaske. If the latter will see no objection to this decision as he is due to be a father fairly soon, Peter Gade on his side may have wanted to go and see the city of his favourite football team. “In a way, I am disappointed not to go, but I understand perfectly the coaches’ decision. Actually, had I been a coach, I would have probably made the same decision because it’s important that the younger players learn to cope with a bit more pressure on their shoulders. And I think I have given my share to the team already.” said Gade in a telephone interview. The confusion over Gade’s participation – he was announced by the Organizers to be participating in the event – was probably due to the fact that Denmark is anticipating possible injuries – especially with the Denmark National Championships this week-end and hence, sending the biggest possible list. “This is probably why my name was on the list, but I will not be going to Liverpool unless something happens to one of our men’s singles” confirmed Gade (photo right). Denmark will surely miss his number one, who has proven his great form by scooping the Korea Open recently, but the younger generation has proven its worth recently : Joachim Persson (photo up) and Jan Jorgensen have both performed very well lately, the former entering the top 10 and qualifying for the Super Series final while Jorgensen recently clinched the Swedish International, where most of the other top European players were featured. For the doubles, Boe and Mogensen (pictured in rotator spot) will take over the spot left empty by Paaske and Rasmussen, but once again, their recent win in Korea – beating no less that Lee/Jung in the final, at home – will probably see them filled with confidence to lead the team for the first time. And if this wasn’t enough, Tine Rasmussen, on her side, will make the trip to Liverpool to ensure some important points in the singles. The mixed team sent to England is the strongest possible with both Laybourn/Juhl and Fischer-Nieslen/Pedersen , while two key figures of the Women’s double will stay home : Helle Nielsen and Lena Frier, the latter being also European Champion. Other teams send full line up. If Denmark looks as the favourites on paper, other teams have sent their strongest line ups, as expected and the fact that 5 key figures of the Danish team are missing will probably give the others some hopes. Second seeds and hosts England will bank on their full “post Emms” squad with three key players – Nathan Robertson, Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg (photo) , who have more than 250 International Caps all together. Germany and Poland, seeded 3rd and 4th respectively will also be eying for Denmark’s false move, even if Poland will have to play without Nadiezda Kostiuczyk, who has undergone a hip surgery and is out for several months. Germany are set to play with their full squad, led by Xu Huaiwen. Same goes for the Dutch – who will have an homogeneous team with most of their players able to be featured both in singles and doubles. France with its 7th seed spot is sending its youngest team ever – apart from Pi Hongyan who turned 30 this past Sunday. The French men squad’s average age is 20. Badzine will be covering the European Championships live from Liverpool Official Website here