Badminton Paradise: Denmark Diary 2

Dev S Sukumar was one of five Asian journalists invited to the Denmark Open 2011. He recounts his experiences in the second instalment of this two-part diary.

There was plenty of talk about the Chinese. Lin Dan, coming in from his fourth World Championships win, crashed out to the young Hong Kong player, Wing Ki Wong, in the second round. Lin played indifferently, rarely using his smash or his speed, and few in the audience believed he’d given his best. There had been plenty of criticism at the Japan Open in end-September, where he’d given teammate Chen Long a walkover in the semis, and the unstated sentiment seemed to be that he’d thrown it away again because he was slated to meet Chen Long again in the semis. Denmark’s world No.3 Peter Gade summed up the mood when he talked of the need for Asian players to become independent of their federations. “I know the BWF is doing a lot,” he said. “But it’s important that the national associations do not control their players so much.”

Peter Gade, world No.3

The one big event on quarterfinal day was Peter Gade versus Viktor Axelsen. Lanky lad Axelsen, who comes from Odense, had dumped his idol Taufik Hidayat in the quarters, and the quarterfinal was rich in prospect. You could almost see the headlines. It was Denmark’s future against its present.

And when Axelsen used his steep smashes and astute control of the net to take the second game, the epitaph-writers might have started composing their ditties for Gade. Admirably, the veteran looked as composed as always, refused to panic, and calmly outmanoevred his young challenger in the third game.

The semifinal was a different affair, however, for Lee Chong Wei was just too quick for the Danish great. In the other half, Chen Long demolished Sho Sasaki.

In any case, Chen took full advantage, outclassing China’s biggest threat Lee Chong Wei in the final in a fearsome display of hitting and speed.

Saina Nehwal too had crashed out in the second round, to Tai Tzu Ying of Hong Kong. The Indian has had a nightmare year after a dream 2010. In Denmark she looked too slow, and Tai seemed to keep catching her with a deceptive mix of strokes. The Hong Kong player seems an exciting prospect, but Saina was just a shadow of herself and below par.

City of Odense

Odense is a flat city, which explains the number of cyclists and runners. It sees itself as a city dedicated to sport and has hosted numerous world-level events. Amazingly, the town’s motto is ‘To Play Is To Live’ – which shows how seriously it takes its sport. The town council therefore is an enthusiastic partner in the conduct of the Denmark Open, and is a shining beacon to all such administrative bodies worldwide.

At the traditional brunch for VIPs on the morning of the finals, we shared the table with Deputy Mayor Jane Jegind, who is responsible for the elderly and the disabled. Last year we had the pleasure of meeting another Deputy Mayor in charge of sports, Stina Willumsen. Both Jegind and Willumsen are in their mid-thirties – a stunning fact for those used to seeing stodgy old Indian politicians – and are well-informed and passionate about their work. Willumsen, in fact, was at the venue on finals day to hand over trophies, and she chatted amiably about a recent Kerala vacation. The Deputy Mayor sat inconspicuously in the audience along with her father.

About the only point to pick was the absence of nearly every former star, excepting the seven-time All England winner Erland Kops, who keenly follows every Denmark Open. One would expect that former winners would be introduced to the crowd.

Apart from that, the Danes do everything so well it’s hard to find any flaw. No other tournament in the world operates with the vision of the Denmark association. Their hospitality, the media facilities, the showcasing of Odense – including its business, its technology, its history — to the world; their keenness in pitching tourism – surely, it’s without parallel or precedence.

India can borrow several lessons from Denmark. Beginning with, of course, access to courts; a well structured national circuit and training system for juniors and seniors; round-the-year tournaments, and big, classy events. With all these in place, who can deny a surge of top-class players?

For those who have missed part 1 of Denmark diaries, can find it here