Danish Badminton Duo Astrup/Rasmussen Advances from Olympic Group of Death in Paris 2024
Conor Hudson
Sat Aug 03 2024
The men's doubles group D at the 2024 Paris Olympics emerged as the toughest group, featuring reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin, world championship runners-up Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, 2021 world champions Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi, 9th-ranked pair Liu Yu Chen/Ou Xuân Yi, and Pan Am champions Vinson Chiu/Joshua Yuan.
The battle for the top spots in the group intensified as Astrup/Rasmussen faced off against Hoki/Kobayashi, while Lee/Wang battled Liu/Ou. The Taiwanese duo needed at least one game to secure a quarter-final spot, while Astrup/Rasmussen aimed for a win to solidify their standing in the next round.
Both scenarios unfolded as Lee/Wang not only secured victory but also maintained their flawless record with a nail-biting 17-21, 21-17, 24-22 win over Liu/Ou. Meanwhile, Astrup/Rasmussen forced a pivotal third set by saving two game points and ultimately triumphed with a scoreline of 21-19, 22-20.
Having bounced back from an initial loss to Lee/Wang in the group stage, Astrup and Rasmussen celebrated their resilient comeback to advance to the quarter-finals from a challenging group. Astrup expressed the significance of their victory, stating, "It's obviously a huge win, to progress from our group is almost as good as winning a medal."
Wang Chi-Lin admitted to feeling anxious at the start of the match, knowing they needed to win at least one game. He said, "Today's match was really important. In the first game, I was very nervous and played poorly. I felt more confident going into the quarter-finals. In the first game, I made a lot of mistakes in serving, but in the second game, I thought there's no other way but to keep fighting and I'm delighted we won. The audience's continuous support boosted us. Winning all matches made us confident, and I appreciate my partner; we just keep fighting together."
Astrup/Rasmussen's commendable performance in overcoming powerhouse opponents highlights their tenacity and determination on badminton's grand stage in Paris. As the Olympic badminton event progresses, these resilient Danish players showcase their caliber and readiness to take on top-tier challenges.