Denmark Include World Junior Champ In Thomas Cup Squad

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 (Bernama) -- European dark horses Denmark will field a combination of promising young and experienced players in their mission to win the Thomas Cup which they have not won since 1948.

Men's singles coach cum player, Kenneth Jonassen said the team would comprise seasoned campaigner and world number four, Peter Gade, Jan O Jorgensen, Joaachim Perrson and himself.

They have also roped in recent 2010 world junior champion, Viktor Axelsen in the squad.

"Although it's a combination of young and experienced players, it's a well balanced team. Exelsen is just 16, but he's the world junior champion," the 36-year-old Jonassen told reporters during the team's training session at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, here Friday.

Their doubles players are made up of Mathias Boe, Carsten Mogensen, Jonas Rasmussen, Lars Paaske and Thomas Laybourn.

Asked whether he would play or guide his charges from the sideline, Jonassen said it was up to the team's senior coach to decide.

Axelsen, who started playing badminton since seven, said he received the call to join the Thomas Cup squad before the world junior championship in Mexico, three weeks ago.

"One of my seniors in the Thomas Cup list, Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, suffered an injury. So, the coach felt I can fit into his plans to blend with the rest of the experienced players," he said.

Denmark, seeded fourth in the tournament, are drawn in Group C together with Germany and Poland.

Since the inception of the tournament in 1948, Denmark has emerged as runner-up in eight editions - 1948 (England), 1954 (Singapore), 1963 (Tokyo), 1972 (Jakarta), 1978 (Jakarta), 1996 Hong Kong), 2004 (Jakarta) and 2006 (Tokyo).

Source from BERNAMA

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