- It is an interesting team we send to the World Championships, because there are several medal candidates in the squad. In men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles we have several players or couples who have shown strength against topranked opponents. Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl will, for example try to defend their gold medal from the World Championships in India last year, says Chief of Elite Sports, Finn Trærup-Hansen, who has the final responsibility for selection of players. The defending world champions in mixed doubles have had a very doubtful season filled with injuries and therefore they are careful with their expectations:
- Well the goal is a little difficult to talk about because we have had an atypical year since the last World Championships. There have been too many injuries, but anyway we have been able to play tournaments at a high level, so if we can avoid more injuries and have a good training period up to the World Championships, well then anything can happen again. But our goal is a medal and we are of course thinking about the gold, it would indeed be fun with one more, says Thomas Laybourn, who is the male part of the Danish mixed doubles. In the singles, the pressure is on Peter Gade and Tine Rasmussen – and the expectations are again somewhat mixed.
- It is uncertain what Tine Rasmussen is able to after a prolonged heel injury, but the positive news is that the heel looks fine again and at the moment the practice can be managed gradually aligned with the participation to the World Championships. Finally, there are players on the team, who are going to Paris to show what they can perform at their top level, says Chief of Elite Sports, Finn Trærup-Hansen. Peter Gade, who currently is playing in Singapore, is fit for fight and is strongly committed to perform at the World Championships in Paris.
- This World Championships may be my last and I am glad that it is in Paris. This means that the European players get a fantastic home soil - I am looking forward to the World Championships. The last half year has been really good and together with Lars Uhre (assistant national coach, Ed.) I have submitted a plan. The goal is a medal! Badminton Association of Denmark also would like to ensure that the Danish players can be experienced at home soil for the World Championships. Therefore, the Badminton Association of Denmark will send an application to BWF on hosting the World Championships in 2013, once the guidelines are available. And the Danish players are thrilled that the World Championships may be played in Denmark. | | – For Denmark and Danish badminton it would be fantastic, and again state that the way Denmark is organizing tournaments is world class. Particularly now we are a part of the Premier SS tournaments, which also proves that Badminton Association of Denmark is doing the right thing and think big, says Thomas Laybourn and is supplemented by Peter Gade: - It sounds exciting and it's also a while since the last World Championships was in Denmark. Whether I play? - I do not think so, but you should never say never. At the moment everything is focused on pushing the lemon to the max in the preparations for the World Championships in 2010, says Peter Gade. World Championships team:
Mens Singles
Peter Gade, Skælskør Badminton Club
Jan Ø Jørgensen, Viby Badminton Club
Joachim Persson, Greve Strand's Badminton Club
Women's Singles
Tine Rasmussen, Værløse Badminton Men's Doubles
Mathias Boe, Skælskør Badminton Club & Carsten Mogensen, Skælskør Badminton Club
Lars Paaske, Greve Strand Badminton Club & Jonas Rasmussen Frederikshavn Badminton Club
Kasper Henriksen, Viby Badminton Club & Anders Kristiansen Værløse Badminton Women's doubles
Line Kruse, Viby Badminton Club & Mie Schjøtt-Kristensen, Højbjerg Badminton Club
Lena Frier Kristiansen Højbjerg Badminton Club & Marie Røpke, Gentofte Badminton Club Mixed doubles
Thomas Laybourn, Frederikshavn Badminton Club & Kamilla Rytter Juhl, Greve Strand's Badminton Club
Joachim Fischer Nielsen, Skælskør Badminton Club & Christinna Pedersen, Greve Strand's Badminton Club
Mikkel Delbo Larsen, Gentofte Badminton Club & Mie Schjøtt-Kristensen, Højbjerg Badminton Club For further information please contact Chief of Elite Sports, Finn Trærup-Hansen:
tel.: +45 24 84 28 01 |