http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2007/8/18/sports/18631737&sec=sports Denmark badminton is going downhill, says Kops THE rot has set in for Danish badminton as far as Erland Kops is concerned. The legendary Dane, who won 11 All-England titles between 1958 and 1969, did not mince his words after watching the exits of his fellow countrymen from the World Championships. Men’s singles players Peter-Gade Christensen and Kenneth Jonassen exited from the competition after respective quarter-finals defeats by Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro and China’s Bao Chunlai yesterday. Denmark had no more representatives in the men’s doubles after former world champions Jonas Rasmussen-Lars Paaske and Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen bowed out in the second and third round respectively. “The truth is Peter-Gade Christensen and in a certain way Tine Rasmussen are the last bastions of Danish badminton. It’s going to take us five years to get a development programme going and I’m not too sure when we can produce a world class beater,” said Kops, who said the problem is linked to financial support. “Playing badminton is an insecure business and there is no guarantee of income. That is one reason why many talented players do not want to take the risk of becoming a professional in case they do not make it at the international level. We also have sponsorship problems unlike players in Asia. “Some of the players are involved at club level but that is only to make money,” lamented Kops, who brought nearly 40 Danish badminton fans to Kuala Lumpur for the world meet.
Where are the Danish new blood? Otherwise Poland and Germany might just overtake Denmark as kingpins of European badminton.
