Indonesia will enter the Sudirman Cup quarterfinals as group leader despite losing 3-2 to Denmark in the last group stage match at the Guangxi Sports Center in Nanning, China, on Wednesday.

As group leader, Indonesia will face a runner-up from another group, usually a less powerful team.

Wednesday’s result also gave the Danes a sigh of relief as it meant that they also advanced to the quarterfinal after facing the prospects of an early exit following 3-2 loss against England in Monday’s group stage match.

Playing the decisive opener, mixed doubles duo Hafiz Faisal and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja could not bear the burden of winning the point for the team as they were overpowered by on-fire pair Mathias Christiansen and Sara Thygesen.

Despite showing their confidence in the first half of the first game by leading 11-7, the Indonesian pair failed to keep the upper hand as Christiansen and Thygesen caught them to win the first game 21-17.

The second game was predictable as the Danes continued their domination 21-11 to claim the match.

Unsatisfied Gloria admitted that she could not give her best, especially during her easy-to-read serves.

“I usually get the point from my serve but this time it was not my best. I made too many unforced errors,” she said as quoted by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI)’s badmintonindonesia.org.

On Denmark’s end, realizing that winning Wednesday’s battle was the only way to reach the quarterfinals, Viktor Axelsen entered the court with only one aim: winning the match against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting — Indonesia’s main man.

2016 Olympics bronze medalist, Axelsen managed to take the lead from the beginning and eventually secured the second winning point for the Danes with the 21-9, 21-16 victory against Anthony, better known as Ginting.

Indonesia stole a point in the third match that featured Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan against Mathias Boe and Kim Astrup in the men’s doubles. The Danes were a new pair, set in the last minute when they knew they would face the Indonesians.

Hendra and Ahsan, who were trailing the Danes 7-11, came from behind to change the narrative and won the first game 22-20. The duo, nicknamed “The Daddies” by their fans due to their fatherhood status, gave fresh air to the team by sealing the match 21-14.

In the women’s singles, Fitriani failed to add a winning point as she lost 21-13, 21-19 to Mia Blichfeldt, which became a decider for her team to reach the quarters.

It was a hard day for Fitriani as she had the chance to extend the match into a three-game when the score was 19-19. But Fitriani made two unforced errors. In their two previous meetings, Fitriani defeated Blichfeldt.

“I apologize to the team that I could not win a point. I was pressured by the opponent and I was hasty and made too many unforced errors,” she said.

Commenting on Blichfeldt’s performance, Fitriani said, “In our previous match, she was quite emotional but she’s more patient now. She also tends to play safe.”

Playing the last match, Greysia Polii and Apriani Rahayu in the women’s doubles produced another winning point after defeating world number five pair Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen 21-18, 21-13.

The draw for the quarterfinals is set to take place on Wednesday night. Indonesia will not face China or Japan in the quarters as they also finished group leaders.

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