TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Gade may have seen the last Thomas Cup action
The Kuala Lumpur's Thomas Cup may see the last action from one of the world's long-standing top shuttlers, Peter Hoeg Gade Christensen of Denmark, in the biennial world men's team-event championship
Change Size
T
he Kuala Lumpur's Thomas Cup may see the last action from one of the world's long-standing top shuttlers, Peter Hoeg Gade Christensen of Denmark, in the biennial world men's team-event championship.
The Denmark team was stopped in the quarterfinals Wednesday, losing out to host Malaysia 2-3, which included Christensen's defeat to Malaysia's world top shuttler Lee Chong Wei, in what could have been a farewell match for the Dane who is famous for his efficient, clinical yet graceful movements on the court.
"Maybe this is my last involvement with the Thomas Cup. I'm an old man, you know," said 33-year-old Gade, who still stands tall as the world's No. 4 and has been an integral part of the Danish Thomas Cup team since 1996.
It was the second time the Danish men's team missed the Thomas Cup semis, as its last final stint was in 2006, in Japan. The women's team also failed to secure a semis spot as they lost 3-1 to the Japanese female team.
The Wednesday's quarterfinals was a very tight tie for Denmark and Malaysia, as the winning point was decided in the fifth match, of Joachim Persson versus Mohd Hafiz Hashim. Joachim surrendered 12-21, 10-21 to Hashim, handing the host team a place in the semifinals.
Still, Christensen believes he still has enough energy left in his tank and expects to continue his career in individual events for another year or so.
"I'm going to continue for the next one to one-and-a-half years, maybe until the Olympics. There's no reason why I shouldn't continue, as for the past half year, I've shown that I'm capable of beating top shuttlers such as Taufik *Hidayat*, and Lin Dan," he said
The former world No. 1 in 1997 beat his long-time rival, Indonesia's Taufik, at the recent quarterfinals of the All England Super Series in an arduous match of 22-20, 20-22, 20-22. He also outclassed world No.2 Chinese shuttler Lin Dan in 21-16, 21-17 at the recent Swiss Open Super Series.
He also expressed confidence that the Danish younger shuttlers in the men's team could follow in his footsteps.
"Some young players are coming forward, but they need more time before they're ready for pressure like this. I'll do my best to bring out whatever I can in the young players," said Gade, who has been thinking of becoming a coach when he retires.
Twenty-two-year-old second singles Jan O. Jorgersen is seen as probably the best fit to replace Christensen. Jorgensen contributed a winning point during the quarters tie, beating Wong Choong Han in a three-game match of 22-20, 16-21, 21-18 in a one-hour-and-12 minute battle.
Jorgensen currently stands at the world No. 9. He beat Taufik at the recent Malaysia Open Super Series in a rubber-game of 7-21, 21-19, 21-17. In November last year, Jorgensen cruised through to the finals of China Open Super Series by beating world top shuttlers including Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand and Chen Jin of China.
"The men's singles is a tough category. Jan has to keep producing good results. Everybody can make one good result, but it's difficult to keep it up at the top level for a long period of time. Only the best guys in the world can do that," said Gade.
Christensen was the 1999 All England champion. He is mostly known for his fast, measured attacks and smooth footwork. Gade's latest triumph was at last year's Korea Open Super Series.
Beside Jorgensen, the Danish Thomas Cup squad also includes young talent Victor Axelsen, who in April became the world champion at the World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico.
