Danish shuttler Mathias Boe puts behind his anti-India tweets

Mathias Boe (c)

Bangalore - London Olympics silver medallist Mathias Boe of Denmark feels he was carried away by his emotions after he went unsold at the Indian Badminton League (IBL) players auction in July.

The 33-year-old had cried foul and vowed that he will never visit India after he was unsold. His tweets on India took the badminton world by surprise.

“Didn’t get sold in IBL. I’m really pissed, as I have supported the event all the way through and almost left the national team to participate. After Thomas Cup next year, I will never set my feet in India again or support any events from their side,” Boe had tweeted.

But later he was roped in by Awadhe Warriors as a replacement player.

Boe told IANS in an interview that he was carried away with emotions, but he was moved on in his life.

“I was disappointed because I did not get picked. I believe I have a lot to offer on and off the court as I am used to playing team events and I have done very well for many years. Emotions were high, and I tweeted those comments but now it is past now. I am happy to be playing for my team,” Boe told IANS.

While Boe initially went unsold, his doubles partner Carsten Mogensen was bought by Banga Beats. They are ranked World No.3 in men’s doubles and together won the doubles silver in London.

Asked if he was happy to negotiate pay after halving his base price to $25,000, Boe said: “I have moved on. It is not about the money as I have it. I obviously wouldn’t have played for free as this is my job but money is not the most important thing. What is important is this event should be successful and for me to feel well in the team and have an enjoyable experience in India.”

The former All England champion wants to improve his habit of losing important finals.

Boe and Mogensen lost the 2006 European Badminton Championships final, the 2012 Olympic final and recently the 2013 World Championships final to World No.2 Indonesian pair Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.

“What can I say? Of course when you are in a final you want to win. So it is disappointing to lose but I am very proud of what I have achieved,” said the former World No.1.

Boe and Mogensen are the only Danes after legendary Camilla Martin to have won a medal in each European, Worlds and Olympics.

“Despite Denmark producing so many great players, it is quite unique to see my name alongside Camilla. A World Championship medal was the only one missing from my kitty, so I am pretty happy to have won the silver in China. But of course when you are in a final and you are so close to the big title, you are disappointed if you don’t succeed,” added the 33-year-old.

Boe had to face some unusual circumstances in the IBL as he was pitted against Mogensen in the Lucknow leg. Boe and Markis Kido easily defeated the Banga Beats pair of Mogensen and Akshay Dewalkar in straight games.

Asked about the experience, Boe said: “It was fun playing against Carsten but this wasn’t the first time. In the Danish league too we play in different teams so we are used to it.”